Jerrara 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
Jerrara and Rose Valley are both Kiama rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Jerrara runs $3,174 a year cheaper than Rose Valley, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $36,386.
Over 10 years, Jerrara costs about $36,400 less to run than Rose Valley. That's about $70 a week.
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Rose Valley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Jerrara | 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 | $4,219 | $6,743 | -$2,524 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $2,150 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,226 | $12,400 | -$3,174 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,407 | $8,057 | -$650 |
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 | Jerrara | 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, Jerrara vs Rose Valley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Jerrara costs $3,174 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $36,386 in favour of Jerrara.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $2,524 per year. Jerrara is 96.6 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,407 from Jerrara versus $8,057 from Rose Valley.
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 Jerrara by $2,524 a year, $4,219 against $6,743.
- Building insurance favours Jerrara by $650 a year, $1,500 against $2,150.
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 medium in Rose Valley against low in Jerrara, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Rose Valley against medium in Jerrara, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Jerrara cumulative | Rose Valley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,226 | $12,400 | $3,174 |
| Year 3 | $28,517 | $38,327 | $9,810 |
| Year 5 | $48,982 | $65,833 | $16,851 |
| Year 10 | $105,766 | $142,152 | $36,386 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jerrara or Rose Valley cheaper to live in?
Jerrara is cheaper to run by car at $9,226 per year versus $12,400 for Rose Valley, a difference of $3,174 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Jerrara and Rose Valley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,959 in Jerrara (Kiama rates (OLG) and $1,959 in Rose Valley (Kiama rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Jerrara 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 Jerrara and Rose Valley?
Jerrara is $4,219 a year to drive to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Rose Valley is $6,743 a year to drive to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Jerrara and $2,400 from Rose Valley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Jerrara and Rose Valley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Jerrara costs a cumulative $105,766 and Rose Valley costs $142,152 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $36,386 in favour of Jerrara. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Jerrara 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.