Eraring vs Yarrawonga Park: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Eraring and Yarrawonga Park are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 92.6 km and 91 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Eraring runs $333 a year cheaper than Yarrawonga Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,817.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Eraring
Yarrawonga Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Eraring | Yarrawonga Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,911 | $3,844 | +$67 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $3,500 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,151 | $10,484 | -$333 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,640 | $9,040 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Eraring | Yarrawonga Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,148 | $2,148 | - |
| Unit | $1,716 | $1,716 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Eraring vs Yarrawonga Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Eraring costs $333 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,817 in favour of Eraring.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Yarrawonga Park carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,640 from Eraring versus $9,040 from Yarrawonga Park.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Eraring cumulative | Yarrawonga Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,151 | $10,484 | $333 |
| Year 3 | $31,376 | $32,405 | $1,029 |
| Year 5 | $53,893 | $55,661 | $1,768 |
| Year 10 | $116,370 | $120,187 | $3,817 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eraring or Yarrawonga Park cheaper to live in?
Eraring is cheaper to run by car at $10,151 per year versus $10,484 for Yarrawonga Park, a difference of $333 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Eraring and Yarrawonga Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Eraring (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Yarrawonga Park (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Eraring and $1,377 in Yarrawonga Park. 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 Eraring and Yarrawonga Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,911 from Eraring and $3,844 from Yarrawonga Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Eraring and $2,400 from Yarrawonga Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Eraring and Yarrawonga Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Eraring costs a cumulative $116,370 and Yarrawonga Park costs $120,187 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,817 in favour of Eraring. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Eraring and Yarrawonga Park is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.