Horsley vs Stream Hill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Horsley and Stream Hill are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 79.5 km and 77.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Horsley runs $626 a year cheaper than Stream Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,176.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,200, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Stream Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Horsley | Stream Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,472 | $3,398 | +$74 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $2,300 | -$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,439 | $9,065 | -$626 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,367 | $8,067 | -$700 |
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 | Horsley | Stream Hill | 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, Horsley vs Stream Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Horsley and Stream Hill differ by $626 a year by car, but $700 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 $74, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Stream Hill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $7,367 from Horsley versus $8,067 from Stream Hill.
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 Stream Hill by $74 a year, $3,398 against $3,472.
- Building insurance favours Horsley by $700 a year, $1,600 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 Stream Hill against medium in Horsley, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Stream Hill against low in Horsley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Horsley cumulative | Stream Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,439 | $9,065 | $626 |
| Year 3 | $26,084 | $28,019 | $1,935 |
| Year 5 | $44,804 | $48,127 | $3,323 |
| Year 10 | $96,744 | $103,920 | $7,176 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Horsley or Stream Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Horsley runs $8,439 a year by car and Stream Hill $9,065, but most of the $626 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $74. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Horsley and Stream Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Horsley (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Stream Hill (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Horsley and $1,548 in Stream Hill. 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 Horsley and Stream Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,472 from Horsley and $3,398 from Stream Hill to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Horsley and $2,400 from Stream Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Horsley and Stream Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Horsley costs a cumulative $96,744 and Stream Hill costs $103,920 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,176 in favour of Horsley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Horsley and Stream Hill 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.