Primbee vs Warrawong, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Primbee and Warrawong are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 76.8 km and 75.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $271 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,100, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Warrawong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Primbee | Warrawong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,355 | $3,284 | +$71 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,300 | $2,100 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,022 | $8,751 | +$271 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,067 | $7,867 | +$200 |
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 | Primbee | Warrawong | 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, Primbee vs Warrawong (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Primbee and Warrawong differ by $271 a year by car, but $200 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 $71, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Primbee carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $8,067 from Primbee versus $7,867 from Warrawong.
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 Warrawong by $71 a year, $3,284 against $3,355.
- Building insurance favours Warrawong by $200 a year, $2,100 against $2,300.
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 Warrawong, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.6 in Primbee against 3.3 in Warrawong, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Primbee cumulative | Warrawong cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,022 | $8,751 | $271 |
| Year 3 | $27,886 | $27,048 | $838 |
| Year 5 | $47,899 | $46,460 | $1,439 |
| Year 10 | $103,427 | $100,320 | $3,107 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Primbee or Warrawong cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Primbee runs $9,022 a year by car and Warrawong $8,751, but most of the $271 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $71. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Primbee and Warrawong?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Primbee (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Warrawong (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Primbee and $1,548 in Warrawong. 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 Primbee and Warrawong?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,355 from Primbee and $3,284 from Warrawong to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Primbee and $2,400 from Warrawong.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Primbee and Warrawong?
At 3% annual cost growth, Primbee costs a cumulative $103,427 and Warrawong costs $100,320 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,107 in favour of Warrawong. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Primbee and Warrawong 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.