Fernhill vs Tarrawanna, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Fernhill and Tarrawanna are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 64.4 km and 64.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Fernhill runs $513 a year cheaper than Tarrawanna, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,881.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,900, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tarrawanna
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fernhill | Tarrawanna | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,389 | $4,452 | -$63 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,400 | $1,850 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,156 | $9,669 | -$513 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,167 | $7,617 | -$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 | Fernhill | Tarrawanna | 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, Fernhill vs Tarrawanna (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fernhill and Tarrawanna differ by $513 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 $63, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Tarrawanna carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,167 from Fernhill versus $7,617 from Tarrawanna.
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 Fernhill by $63 a year, $4,389 against $4,452.
- 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.
Fire risk is rated high in Tarrawanna against low in Fernhill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fernhill cumulative | Tarrawanna cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,156 | $9,669 | $513 |
| Year 3 | $28,300 | $29,886 | $1,586 |
| Year 5 | $48,610 | $51,334 | $2,724 |
| Year 10 | $104,963 | $110,844 | $5,881 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fernhill or Tarrawanna cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Fernhill runs $9,156 a year by car and Tarrawanna $9,669, but most of the $513 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $63. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fernhill and Tarrawanna?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Fernhill (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Tarrawanna (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Fernhill and $1,548 in Tarrawanna. 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 Fernhill and Tarrawanna?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,389 from Fernhill and $4,452 from Tarrawanna to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Fernhill and $2,400 from Tarrawanna.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fernhill and Tarrawanna?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fernhill costs a cumulative $104,963 and Tarrawanna costs $110,844 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,881 in favour of Fernhill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fernhill and Tarrawanna 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.