Maldon vs Tahmoor, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Maldon and Tahmoor are both Wollondilly rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 64.3 km and 69 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tahmoor runs $1,444 a year cheaper than Maldon, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $16,553.
Over 10 years, Tahmoor costs about $16,600 less to run than Maldon. That's about $32 a week.
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Tahmoor
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Maldon | Tahmoor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,195 | $2,195 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,409 | $3,315 | +$1,094 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $1,700 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,202 | $8,758 | +$1,444 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,193 | $7,843 | +$350 |
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 | Maldon | Tahmoor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, Maldon vs Tahmoor (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Tahmoor costs $1,444 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $16,553 in favour of Tahmoor.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $1,094 per year. Tahmoor is 69 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $8,193 from Maldon versus $7,843 from Tahmoor.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $2,195 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Tahmoor by $1,094 a year, $3,315 against $4,409.
- Building insurance favours Tahmoor by $350 a year, $1,700 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 high in Maldon against medium in Tahmoor, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.8 in Maldon against 4.2 in Tahmoor, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Maldon cumulative | Tahmoor cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,202 | $8,758 | $1,444 |
| Year 3 | $31,533 | $27,070 | $4,463 |
| Year 5 | $54,164 | $46,497 | $7,667 |
| Year 10 | $116,954 | $100,401 | $16,553 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Maldon or Tahmoor cheaper to live in?
Tahmoor is cheaper to run by car at $8,758 per year versus $10,202 for Maldon, a difference of $1,444 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Maldon and Tahmoor?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,195 in Maldon (Wollondilly rates (OLG) and $2,195 in Tahmoor (Wollondilly rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Maldon and $1,548 in Tahmoor. 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 Maldon and Tahmoor?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,409 from Maldon and $3,315 from Tahmoor to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Maldon and $2,400 from Tahmoor.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Maldon and Tahmoor?
At 3% annual cost growth, Maldon costs a cumulative $116,954 and Tahmoor costs $100,401 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $16,553 in favour of Tahmoor. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Maldon and Tahmoor suits you better?
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Sources: Wollondilly rates (OLG and Wollondilly 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.