Old Erowal Bay vs Worrowing Heights: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Old Erowal Bay and Worrowing Heights are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Old Erowal Bay runs $400 a year cheaper than Worrowing Heights, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
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 →Old Erowal Bay
Worrowing Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Old Erowal Bay | Worrowing Heights | 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 | $3,100 | $3,500 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,147 | $24,547 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,347 | $8,747 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Old Erowal Bay | Worrowing Heights | 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 — Old Erowal Bay vs Worrowing Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Old Erowal Bay costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Old Erowal Bay.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Worrowing Heights carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,347 from Old Erowal Bay versus $8,747 from Worrowing Heights.
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 Old Erowal Bay by $400 a year, $3,100 against $3,500.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Worrowing Heights against medium in Old Erowal Bay, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.3 in Old Erowal Bay against 3.7 in Worrowing Heights, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Old Erowal Bay cumulative | Worrowing Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $24,147 | $24,547 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $74,636 | $75,872 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $128,200 | $130,323 | $2,123 |
| Year 10 | $276,818 | $281,404 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Old Erowal Bay or Worrowing Heights cheaper to live in?
Old Erowal Bay is cheaper to run by car at $24,147 per year versus $24,547 for Worrowing Heights, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Old Erowal Bay and Worrowing Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Old Erowal Bay (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Worrowing Heights (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Old Erowal Bay and $1,300 in Worrowing Heights. 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 Old Erowal Bay and Worrowing Heights?
Old Erowal Bay 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. Worrowing Heights 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 Old Erowal Bay and $2,400 from Worrowing Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Old Erowal Bay and Worrowing Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Old Erowal Bay costs a cumulative $276,818 and Worrowing Heights costs $281,404 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Old Erowal Bay. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Old Erowal Bay and Worrowing Heights 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.