Farmborough Heights vs Unanderra, 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 Unanderra are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 74.5 km and 73.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $69 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 these two cost about the same to run.
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
Unanderra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Farmborough Heights | Unanderra | 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 | $3,223 | +$31 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,600 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,121 | $8,190 | -$69 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,267 | $7,367 | -$100 |
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 | Unanderra | 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 Unanderra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Farmborough Heights and Unanderra cost within $69 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $791, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $100 per year. Unanderra carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,267 and $7,367 a year, so the $69 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Unanderra by $31 a year, $3,223 against $3,254.
- Building insurance favours Farmborough Heights by $100 a year, $1,500 against $1,600.
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 medium in Unanderra against low in Farmborough Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Farmborough Heights against low in Unanderra, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Farmborough Heights cumulative | Unanderra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,121 | $8,190 | $69 |
| Year 3 | $25,101 | $25,314 | $213 |
| Year 5 | $43,115 | $43,482 | $367 |
| Year 10 | $93,098 | $93,889 | $791 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Farmborough Heights or Unanderra cheaper to live in?
Farmborough Heights is cheaper to run by car at $8,121 per year versus $8,190 for Unanderra, a difference of $69 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Farmborough Heights and Unanderra?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Farmborough Heights (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Unanderra (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Farmborough Heights and $1,548 in Unanderra. 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 Unanderra?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,254 from Farmborough Heights and $3,223 from Unanderra to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Farmborough Heights and $2,400 from Unanderra.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Farmborough Heights and Unanderra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Farmborough Heights costs a cumulative $93,098 and Unanderra costs $93,889 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $791 in favour of Farmborough Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Farmborough Heights and Unanderra 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.
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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.