Lake Heights vs Port Kembla, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lake Heights and Port Kembla are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 75.4 km and 73.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Lake Heights runs $434 a year cheaper than Port Kembla, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,975.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,000, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Port Kembla
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lake Heights | Port Kembla | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,294 | $3,228 | +$66 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $2,100 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,261 | $8,695 | -$434 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,367 | $7,867 | -$500 |
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 | Lake Heights | Port Kembla | 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, Lake Heights vs Port Kembla (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lake Heights and Port Kembla differ by $434 a year by car, but $500 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 $66, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Port Kembla carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,367 from Lake Heights versus $7,867 from Port Kembla.
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 Port Kembla by $66 a year, $3,228 against $3,294.
- Building insurance favours Lake Heights by $500 a year, $1,600 against $2,100.
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 Port Kembla against medium in Lake Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.4 in Port Kembla against 4.5 in Lake Heights, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lake Heights cumulative | Port Kembla cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,261 | $8,695 | $434 |
| Year 3 | $25,534 | $26,875 | $1,341 |
| Year 5 | $43,859 | $46,163 | $2,304 |
| Year 10 | $94,703 | $99,678 | $4,975 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Heights or Port Kembla cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Lake Heights runs $8,261 a year by car and Port Kembla $8,695, but most of the $434 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $66. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lake Heights and Port Kembla?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Lake Heights (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Port Kembla (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Lake Heights and $1,548 in Port Kembla. 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 Lake Heights and Port Kembla?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,294 from Lake Heights and $3,228 from Port Kembla to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Lake Heights and $2,400 from Port Kembla.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lake Heights and Port Kembla?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lake Heights costs a cumulative $94,703 and Port Kembla costs $99,678 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,975 in favour of Lake Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lake Heights and Port Kembla 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.