Spring Hill vs Unanderra, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Spring Hill and Unanderra are both Wollongong rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 72.1 km and 73.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Unanderra runs $427 a year cheaper than Spring Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,895.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,900, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Unanderra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Spring Hill | Unanderra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,819 | $1,819 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,150 | $3,223 | -$73 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $1,600 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,617 | $8,190 | +$427 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,867 | $7,367 | +$500 |
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 | Spring Hill | Unanderra | 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, Spring Hill vs Unanderra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Spring Hill and Unanderra differ by $427 a year by car, but $500 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 $73, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Spring Hill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,867 from Spring Hill versus $7,367 from Unanderra.
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 Spring Hill by $73 a year, $3,150 against $3,223.
- Building insurance favours Unanderra by $500 a year, $1,600 against $2,100.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Spring Hill against medium in Unanderra, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.8 in Spring Hill against 5 in Unanderra, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Spring Hill cumulative | Unanderra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,617 | $8,190 | $427 |
| Year 3 | $26,634 | $25,314 | $1,320 |
| Year 5 | $45,749 | $43,482 | $2,267 |
| Year 10 | $98,784 | $93,889 | $4,895 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spring Hill or Unanderra cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Spring Hill runs $8,617 a year by car and Unanderra $8,190, but most of the $427 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $73. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Spring Hill and Unanderra?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,819 in Spring Hill (Wollongong rates (OLG) and $1,819 in Unanderra (Wollongong rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Spring Hill and $1,548 in Unanderra. 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 Spring Hill and Unanderra?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,150 from Spring Hill and $3,223 from Unanderra to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Spring Hill and $2,400 from Unanderra.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Spring Hill and Unanderra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Spring Hill costs a cumulative $98,784 and Unanderra costs $93,889 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,895 in favour of Unanderra. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Spring Hill and Unanderra 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.