Gwynneville vs North Wollongong, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Gwynneville and North Wollongong are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 67.7 km and 66.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Gwynneville runs $484 a year cheaper than North Wollongong, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,549.
Over 10 years, Gwynneville costs about $5,500 less to run than North Wollongong. That's about $11 a week.
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North Wollongong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gwynneville | North Wollongong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,637 | $3,921 | -$284 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,050 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,854 | $9,338 | -$484 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,617 | $7,817 | -$200 |
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 | Gwynneville | North Wollongong | 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, Gwynneville vs North Wollongong (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Gwynneville costs $484 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,549 in favour of Gwynneville.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $284 per year. Gwynneville is 67.7 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,617 from Gwynneville versus $7,817 from North Wollongong.
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 Gwynneville by $284 a year, $3,637 against $3,921.
- Building insurance favours Gwynneville by $200 a year, $1,850 against $2,050.
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 medium in North Wollongong against low in Gwynneville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gwynneville cumulative | North Wollongong cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,854 | $9,338 | $484 |
| Year 3 | $27,367 | $28,863 | $1,496 |
| Year 5 | $47,007 | $49,577 | $2,570 |
| Year 10 | $101,501 | $107,050 | $5,549 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gwynneville or North Wollongong cheaper to live in?
Gwynneville is cheaper to run by car at $8,854 per year versus $9,338 for North Wollongong, a difference of $484 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gwynneville and North Wollongong?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Gwynneville (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in North Wollongong (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Gwynneville and $1,548 in North Wollongong. 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 Gwynneville and North Wollongong?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,637 from Gwynneville and $3,921 from North Wollongong to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Gwynneville and $2,400 from North Wollongong.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Gwynneville and North Wollongong?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gwynneville costs a cumulative $101,501 and North Wollongong costs $107,050 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,549 in favour of Gwynneville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gwynneville and North Wollongong 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.