Farmborough Heights vs Kembla Grange, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Farmborough Heights and Kembla Grange are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 74.5 km and 76.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Farmborough Heights runs $887 a year cheaper than Kembla Grange, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,169.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $10,200, about $20 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 →Farmborough Heights
Kembla Grange
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Farmborough Heights | Kembla Grange | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,254 | $3,341 | -$87 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $2,300 | -$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,121 | $9,008 | -$887 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,267 | $8,067 | -$800 |
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 | Farmborough Heights | Kembla Grange | 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, Farmborough Heights vs Kembla Grange (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Farmborough Heights and Kembla Grange differ by $887 a year by car, but $800 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 $87, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Kembla Grange carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $7,267 from Farmborough Heights versus $8,067 from Kembla Grange.
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 Farmborough Heights by $87 a year, $3,254 against $3,341.
- Building insurance favours Farmborough Heights by $800 a year, $1,500 against $2,300.
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 Kembla Grange against low in Farmborough Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Farmborough Heights cumulative | Kembla Grange cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,121 | $9,008 | $887 |
| Year 3 | $25,101 | $27,843 | $2,742 |
| Year 5 | $43,115 | $47,825 | $4,710 |
| Year 10 | $93,098 | $103,267 | $10,169 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Farmborough Heights or Kembla Grange cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Farmborough Heights runs $8,121 a year by car and Kembla Grange $9,008, but most of the $887 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $87. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Farmborough Heights and Kembla Grange?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Farmborough Heights (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Kembla Grange (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Farmborough Heights and $1,548 in Kembla Grange. 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 Farmborough Heights and Kembla Grange?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,254 from Farmborough Heights and $3,341 from Kembla Grange to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Farmborough Heights and $2,400 from Kembla Grange.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Farmborough Heights and Kembla Grange?
At 3% annual cost growth, Farmborough Heights costs a cumulative $93,098 and Kembla Grange costs $103,267 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,169 in favour of Farmborough Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Farmborough Heights and Kembla Grange suits you better?
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.
Related comparisons
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.