Depot Beach vs South Durras, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Depot Beach (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and South Durras (Eurobodalla rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas.
The two sit within $238 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,700, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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South Durras
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Depot Beach | South Durras | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,285 | +$262 |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $2,650 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,197 | $23,435 | -$238 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,197 | $23,435 | -$238 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Depot Beach | South Durras | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $3,115 | -$395 |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,585 | -$376 |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Depot Beach vs South Durras (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Depot Beach and South Durras differ by $238 a year by car, but $500 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $262, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. South Durras carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $238 per year, $23,197 from Depot Beach versus $23,435 from South Durras.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours South Durras by $262 a year, $1,285 against $1,547.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Depot Beach by $500 a year, $2,150 against $2,650.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Flood risk is rated high in South Durras against medium in Depot Beach, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Depot Beach cumulative | South Durras cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,197 | $23,435 | $238 |
| Year 3 | $71,700 | $72,435 | $735 |
| Year 5 | $123,156 | $124,420 | $1,264 |
| Year 10 | $265,928 | $268,656 | $2,728 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Depot Beach or South Durras cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Depot Beach runs $23,197 a year by car and South Durras $23,435, but most of the $238 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $262. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Depot Beach and South Durras?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Depot Beach (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,285 in South Durras (Eurobodalla rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Depot Beach and $1,300 in South Durras. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Depot Beach and South Durras?
Depot Beach carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. South Durras carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Depot Beach and South Durras?
At 3% annual cost growth, Depot Beach costs a cumulative $265,928 and South Durras costs $268,656 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,728 in favour of Depot Beach. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Depot Beach and South Durras suits you better?
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Sources: Shoalhaven rates (OLG and Eurobodalla rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.