Mount Warrigal vs Warilla, 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 Warrigal and Warilla are both Shellharbour rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 82.7 km and 82.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Warrigal runs $492 a year cheaper than Warilla, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,640.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,600, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Warilla
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mount Warrigal | Warilla | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,865 | $1,865 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,612 | $3,604 | +$8 |
| 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) | $8,625 | $9,117 | -$492 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,413 | $7,913 | -$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 | Mount Warrigal | Warilla | 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, Mount Warrigal vs Warilla (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Warrigal and Warilla differ by $492 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 $8, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Warilla carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,413 from Mount Warrigal versus $7,913 from Warilla.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,865 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Warilla by $8 a year, $3,604 against $3,612.
- Building insurance favours Mount Warrigal 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 Warilla against medium in Mount Warrigal, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.4 in Warilla against 3.1 in Mount Warrigal, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mount Warrigal cumulative | Warilla cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,625 | $9,117 | $492 |
| Year 3 | $26,659 | $28,180 | $1,521 |
| Year 5 | $45,791 | $48,403 | $2,612 |
| Year 10 | $98,876 | $104,516 | $5,640 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mount Warrigal or Warilla cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mount Warrigal runs $8,625 a year by car and Warilla $9,117, but most of the $492 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $8. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mount Warrigal and Warilla?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,865 in Mount Warrigal (Shellharbour rates (OLG) and $1,865 in Warilla (Shellharbour rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Mount Warrigal and $1,548 in Warilla. 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 Warrigal and Warilla?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,612 from Mount Warrigal and $3,604 from Warilla to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Mount Warrigal and $2,400 from Warilla.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mount Warrigal and Warilla?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mount Warrigal costs a cumulative $98,876 and Warilla costs $104,516 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,640 in favour of Mount Warrigal. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mount Warrigal and Warilla suits you better?
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Sources: Shellharbour rates (OLG and Shellharbour 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.