Sanctuary Point vs St Georges Basin: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Sanctuary Point and St Georges Basin are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 148.2 km and 148.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Sanctuary Point runs $300 a year cheaper than St Georges Basin, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,439.
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 →Sanctuary Point
St Georges Basin
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Sanctuary Point | St Georges Basin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,800 | $3,100 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,247 | $23,547 | -$300 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,047 | $8,347 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Sanctuary Point | St Georges Basin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,420 | $2,420 | - |
| Unit | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Sanctuary Point vs St Georges Basin (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Sanctuary Point costs $300 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,439 in favour of Sanctuary Point.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. St Georges Basin carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,047 from Sanctuary Point versus $8,347 from St Georges Basin.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Sanctuary Point cumulative | St Georges Basin cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,247 | $23,547 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $71,854 | $72,781 | $927 |
| Year 5 | $123,421 | $125,014 | $1,593 |
| Year 10 | $266,501 | $269,940 | $3,439 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sanctuary Point or St Georges Basin cheaper to live in?
Sanctuary Point is cheaper to run by car at $23,247 per year versus $23,547 for St Georges Basin, a difference of $300 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Sanctuary Point and St Georges Basin?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in Sanctuary Point (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in St Georges Basin (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Sanctuary Point and $1,300 in St Georges Basin. 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 Sanctuary Point and St Georges Basin?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Sanctuary Point and $17,600 from St Georges Basin to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Sanctuary Point and $2,400 from St Georges Basin.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Sanctuary Point and St Georges Basin?
At 3% annual cost growth, Sanctuary Point costs a cumulative $266,501 and St Georges Basin costs $269,940 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,439 in favour of Sanctuary Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Sanctuary Point and St Georges Basin 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 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.