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.
Warrawong runs $371 a year cheaper than Primbee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,253.
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 →Primbee
Warrawong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Primbee | Warrawong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,355 | $3,284 | +$71 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,800 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,822 | $9,451 | +$371 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,867 | $8,567 | +$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 | 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
Warrawong costs $371 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,253 in favour of Warrawong.
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, $8,867 from Primbee versus $8,567 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 $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 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 | $9,822 | $9,451 | $371 |
| Year 3 | $30,359 | $29,212 | $1,147 |
| Year 5 | $52,146 | $50,177 | $1,969 |
| Year 10 | $112,598 | $108,345 | $4,253 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Primbee or Warrawong cheaper to live in?
Warrawong is cheaper to run by car at $9,451 per year versus $9,822 for Primbee, a difference of $371 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $112,598 and Warrawong costs $108,345 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,253 in favour of Warrawong. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Primbee and Warrawong 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.