Gerringong vs Rose Valley, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Gerringong and Rose Valley are both Kiama rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 35.5 km and 32.5 km from Wollongong CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Rose Valley runs $307 a year cheaper than Gerringong, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,520.
Over 10 years, Rose Valley costs about $3,500 less to run than Gerringong. That's about $7 a week.
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Rose Valley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gerringong | Rose Valley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,959 | $1,959 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,900 | $6,743 | +$157 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,300 | $2,150 | +$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,707 | $12,400 | +$307 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,207 | $8,057 | +$150 |
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 | Gerringong | Rose Valley | 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, Gerringong vs Rose Valley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Rose Valley costs $307 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,520 in favour of Rose Valley.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $157 per year. Gerringong is 35.5 km from Wollongong CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $8,207 and $8,057 a year, so the $307 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,959 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Rose Valley by $157 a year, $6,743 against $6,900.
- Building insurance favours Rose Valley by $150 a year, $2,150 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 Gerringong against medium in Rose Valley, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Rose Valley against medium in Gerringong, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gerringong cumulative | Rose Valley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,707 | $12,400 | $307 |
| Year 3 | $39,276 | $38,327 | $949 |
| Year 5 | $67,463 | $65,833 | $1,630 |
| Year 10 | $145,672 | $142,152 | $3,520 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gerringong or Rose Valley cheaper to live in?
Rose Valley is cheaper to run by car at $12,400 per year versus $12,707 for Gerringong, a difference of $307 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gerringong and Rose Valley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Gerringong (Kiama rates (OLG) and $1,959 in Rose Valley (Kiama rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Gerringong and $1,548 in Rose Valley. 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 Gerringong and Rose Valley?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,900 from Gerringong and $6,743 from Rose Valley to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Gerringong and $2,400 from Rose Valley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Gerringong and Rose Valley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gerringong costs a cumulative $145,672 and Rose Valley costs $142,152 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,520 in favour of Rose Valley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gerringong and Rose Valley suits you better?
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Sources: Kiama rates (OLG and Kiama 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.