Mollymook vs Narrawallee: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mollymook and Narrawallee are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mollymook runs $650 a year cheaper than Narrawallee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,451.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Mollymook
Narrawallee
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mollymook | Narrawallee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,450 | $3,100 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,497 | $24,147 | -$650 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,697 | $8,347 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Mollymook | Narrawallee | 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 — Mollymook vs Narrawallee (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mollymook costs $650 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,451 in favour of Mollymook.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Narrawallee carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,697 from Mollymook versus $8,347 from Narrawallee.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,547 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Mollymook by $650 a year, $2,450 against $3,100.
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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Narrawallee against medium in Mollymook, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.6 in Narrawallee against 5.5 in Mollymook, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mollymook cumulative | Narrawallee cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,497 | $24,147 | $650 |
| Year 3 | $72,627 | $74,636 | $2,009 |
| Year 5 | $124,749 | $128,200 | $3,451 |
| Year 10 | $269,367 | $276,818 | $7,451 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mollymook or Narrawallee cheaper to live in?
Mollymook is cheaper to run by car at $23,497 per year versus $24,147 for Narrawallee, a difference of $650 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mollymook and Narrawallee?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Mollymook (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Narrawallee (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Mollymook and $1,300 in Narrawallee. 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 Mollymook and Narrawallee?
Mollymook 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. Narrawallee 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 Mollymook and $2,400 from Narrawallee.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mollymook and Narrawallee?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mollymook costs a cumulative $269,367 and Narrawallee costs $276,818 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,451 in favour of Mollymook. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mollymook and Narrawallee is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Shoalhaven rates (OLG and Shoalhaven rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.