Manchester Square vs Werai, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Manchester Square and Werai are both Wingecarribee rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Manchester Square runs $11,614 a year cheaper than Werai, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $133,141.
Over 10 years, Manchester Square costs about $133,100 less to run than Werai. That's about $256 a week.
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Werai
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Manchester Square | Werai | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,140 | $2,140 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,586 | $18,200 | -$11,614 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $18,200 | -$15,800 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,550 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,576 | $23,190 | -$11,614 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,390 | $23,190 | -$15,800 |
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 | Manchester Square | Werai | 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, Manchester Square vs Werai (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Manchester Square costs $11,614 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $133,141 in favour of Manchester Square.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $11,614 per year. Werai is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD, so its driving figure is a flat regional allowance of about 20,000 km of household driving a year rather than a commute.
On public transport the gap is $15,800 per year, $7,390 from Manchester Square versus $23,190 from Werai.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $2,140 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Manchester Square by $11,614 a year, $6,586 against $18,200.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,550 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 6.8 in Werai against 5.6 in Manchester Square, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Manchester Square cumulative | Werai cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,576 | $23,190 | $11,614 |
| Year 3 | $35,780 | $71,678 | $35,898 |
| Year 5 | $61,459 | $123,119 | $61,660 |
| Year 10 | $132,706 | $265,847 | $133,141 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Manchester Square or Werai cheaper to live in?
Manchester Square is cheaper to run by car at $11,576 per year versus $23,190 for Werai, a difference of $11,614 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Manchester Square and Werai?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,140 in Manchester Square (Wingecarribee rates (OLG) and $2,140 in Werai (Wingecarribee rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Manchester Square and $1,300 in Werai. 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 Manchester Square and Werai?
Manchester Square is $6,586 a year to drive to Wollongong CBD (ATO 91c/km). Werai carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Public transport costs $2,400 from Manchester Square. No daily public transport commute is assumed from Werai, so it is costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Manchester Square and Werai?
At 3% annual cost growth, Manchester Square costs a cumulative $132,706 and Werai costs $265,847 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $133,141 in favour of Manchester Square. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Manchester Square and Werai suits you better?
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Sources: Wingecarribee rates (OLG and Wingecarribee 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.