Mount Kingiman vs Woodburn, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mount Kingiman and Woodburn are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Kingiman runs $700 a year cheaper than Woodburn, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,025.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,000, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Woodburn
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mount Kingiman | Woodburn | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $2,250 | -$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,597 | $23,297 | -$700 |
| Total (public transport) | $22,597 | $23,297 | -$700 |
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 | Mount Kingiman | Woodburn | 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, Mount Kingiman vs Woodburn (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Kingiman and Woodburn differ by $700 a year by car, but $700 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Woodburn carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $22,597 from Mount Kingiman versus $23,297 from Woodburn.
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 Mount Kingiman by $700 a year, $1,550 against $2,250.
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 Woodburn against low in Mount Kingiman, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.6 in Mount Kingiman against 5.5 in Woodburn, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mount Kingiman cumulative | Woodburn cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,597 | $23,297 | $700 |
| Year 3 | $69,845 | $72,009 | $2,164 |
| Year 5 | $119,971 | $123,687 | $3,716 |
| Year 10 | $259,049 | $267,074 | $8,025 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mount Kingiman or Woodburn cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mount Kingiman runs $22,597 a year by car and Woodburn $23,297, but most of the $700 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mount Kingiman and Woodburn?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Mount Kingiman (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Woodburn (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Mount Kingiman and $1,300 in Woodburn. 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 Mount Kingiman and Woodburn?
Mount Kingiman 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. Woodburn 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. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mount Kingiman and Woodburn?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mount Kingiman costs a cumulative $259,049 and Woodburn costs $267,074 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,025 in favour of Mount Kingiman. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mount Kingiman and Woodburn suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.