Fairy Meadow vs Fernhill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Fairy Meadow and Fernhill are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 65.2 km and 64.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $276 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 $3,200, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Fairy Meadow
Fernhill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fairy Meadow | Fernhill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,215 | $4,389 | -$174 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,400 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,432 | $9,156 | +$276 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,617 | $7,167 | +$450 |
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 | Fairy Meadow | Fernhill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,442 | $2,442 | - |
| Unit | $2,001 | $2,001 | - |
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, Fairy Meadow vs Fernhill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fairy Meadow and Fernhill differ by $276 a year by car, but $450 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 $174, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Fairy Meadow carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,617 from Fairy Meadow versus $7,167 from Fernhill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Fairy Meadow by $174 a year, $4,215 against $4,389.
- Building insurance favours Fernhill by $450 a year, $1,400 against $1,850.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Fairy Meadow against medium in Fernhill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fairy Meadow cumulative | Fernhill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,432 | $9,156 | $276 |
| Year 3 | $29,153 | $28,300 | $853 |
| Year 5 | $50,076 | $48,610 | $1,466 |
| Year 10 | $108,127 | $104,963 | $3,164 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fairy Meadow or Fernhill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Fairy Meadow runs $9,432 a year by car and Fernhill $9,156, but most of the $276 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $174. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fairy Meadow and Fernhill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Fairy Meadow (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Fernhill (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Fairy Meadow and $1,548 in Fernhill. 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 Fairy Meadow and Fernhill?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,215 from Fairy Meadow and $4,389 from Fernhill to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Fairy Meadow and $2,400 from Fernhill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fairy Meadow and Fernhill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fairy Meadow costs a cumulative $108,127 and Fernhill costs $104,963 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,164 in favour of Fernhill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fairy Meadow and Fernhill suits you better?
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Sources: Wollongong rates (OLG and Wollongong 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.