Otford vs Stanwell Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Otford and Stanwell Park are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 42.3 km and 45.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Otford runs $655 a year cheaper than Stanwell Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,509.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,500, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Stanwell Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Otford | Stanwell Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,966 | $6,871 | +$95 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,650 | $2,400 | -$750 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,983 | $12,638 | -$655 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,417 | $8,167 | -$750 |
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 | Otford | Stanwell Park | 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, Otford vs Stanwell Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Otford and Stanwell Park differ by $655 a year by car, but $750 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 $95, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $750 per year. Stanwell Park carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $750 per year, $7,417 from Otford versus $8,167 from Stanwell Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,819 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Stanwell Park by $95 a year, $6,871 against $6,966.
- Building insurance favours Otford by $750 a year, $1,650 against $2,400.
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 Stanwell Park against low in Otford, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Otford cumulative | Stanwell Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,983 | $12,638 | $655 |
| Year 3 | $37,038 | $39,063 | $2,025 |
| Year 5 | $63,619 | $67,097 | $3,478 |
| Year 10 | $137,372 | $144,881 | $7,509 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Otford or Stanwell Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Otford runs $11,983 a year by car and Stanwell Park $12,638, but most of the $655 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $95. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Otford and Stanwell Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Otford (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Stanwell Park (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Otford and $1,548 in Stanwell Park. 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 Otford and Stanwell Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,966 from Otford and $6,871 from Stanwell Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Otford and $2,400 from Stanwell Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Otford and Stanwell Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Otford costs a cumulative $137,372 and Stanwell Park costs $144,881 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,509 in favour of Otford. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Otford and Stanwell Park suits you better?
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Sources: Wollongong rates (OLG and Wollongong 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.