Port Kembla vs Primbee: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Port Kembla and Primbee are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 73.9 km and 76.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Port Kembla runs $427 a year cheaper than Primbee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,895.
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 →Port Kembla
Primbee
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Port Kembla | Primbee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,228 | $3,355 | -$127 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $3,100 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,395 | $9,822 | -$427 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,567 | $8,867 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Port Kembla | Primbee | 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 — Port Kembla vs Primbee (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Port Kembla costs $427 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,895 in favour of Port Kembla.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Primbee carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,567 from Port Kembla versus $8,867 from Primbee.
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 Port Kembla by $127 a year, $3,228 against $3,355.
- Building insurance favours Port Kembla by $300 a year, $2,800 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 commute distance and the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated medium in Primbee against low in Port Kembla, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.4 in Port Kembla against 4.6 in Primbee, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Port Kembla cumulative | Primbee cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,395 | $9,822 | $427 |
| Year 3 | $29,039 | $30,359 | $1,320 |
| Year 5 | $49,879 | $52,146 | $2,267 |
| Year 10 | $107,703 | $112,598 | $4,895 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Port Kembla or Primbee cheaper to live in?
Port Kembla is cheaper to run by car at $9,395 per year versus $9,822 for Primbee, a difference of $427 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Port Kembla and Primbee?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Port Kembla (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Primbee (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Port Kembla and $1,548 in Primbee. 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 Port Kembla and Primbee?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,228 from Port Kembla and $3,355 from Primbee to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Port Kembla and $2,400 from Primbee.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Port Kembla and Primbee?
At 3% annual cost growth, Port Kembla costs a cumulative $107,703 and Primbee costs $112,598 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,895 in favour of Port Kembla. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Port Kembla and Primbee 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.