Haywards Bay vs Oak Flats, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Haywards Bay (Wollongong rates (OLG) and Oak Flats (Shellharbour rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (84.4 km and 84.9 km).
The two sit within $133 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 the gap between these two is about $1,500, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Oak Flats
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Haywards Bay | Oak Flats | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,865 | -$46 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,687 | $3,708 | -$21 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,300 | $2,100 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,354 | $9,221 | +$133 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,067 | $7,913 | +$154 |
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 | Haywards Bay | Oak Flats | 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, Haywards Bay vs Oak Flats (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Haywards Bay and Oak Flats differ by $133 a year by car, but $200 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 $67, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Haywards Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $8,067 and $7,913 a year, so the $133 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Haywards Bay by $46 a year, $1,819 against $1,865.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Haywards Bay by $21 a year, $3,687 against $3,708.
- Building insurance favours Oak Flats by $200 a year, $2,100 against $2,300.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated medium in Haywards Bay against low in Oak Flats, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5 in Oak Flats against 3.4 in Haywards Bay, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Haywards Bay cumulative | Oak Flats cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,354 | $9,221 | $133 |
| Year 3 | $28,912 | $28,501 | $411 |
| Year 5 | $49,662 | $48,956 | $706 |
| Year 10 | $107,233 | $105,708 | $1,525 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Haywards Bay or Oak Flats cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Haywards Bay runs $9,354 a year by car and Oak Flats $9,221, but most of the $133 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $67. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Haywards Bay and Oak Flats?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Haywards Bay (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,865 in Oak Flats (Shellharbour rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Haywards Bay and $1,548 in Oak Flats. 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 Haywards Bay and Oak Flats?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,687 from Haywards Bay and $3,708 from Oak Flats to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Haywards Bay and $2,400 from Oak Flats.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Haywards Bay and Oak Flats?
At 3% annual cost growth, Haywards Bay costs a cumulative $107,233 and Oak Flats costs $105,708 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,525 in favour of Oak Flats. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Haywards Bay and Oak Flats suits you better?
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Sources: Wollongong rates (OLG and Shellharbour 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.