St Georges Basin vs Sussex Inlet: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet are both Shoalhaven rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
St Georges Basin runs $400 a year cheaper than Sussex Inlet, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
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 →St Georges Basin
Sussex Inlet
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | St Georges Basin | Sussex Inlet | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,547 | $1,547 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $3,500 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,147 | $24,547 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,347 | $8,747 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | St Georges Basin | Sussex Inlet | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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 — St Georges Basin vs Sussex Inlet (2026-27)
What the numbers show
St Georges Basin costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of St Georges Basin.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Sussex Inlet carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,347 from St Georges Basin versus $8,747 from Sussex Inlet.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,547 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours St Georges Basin by $400 a year, $3,100 against $3,500.
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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated high in Sussex Inlet against medium in St Georges Basin, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.9 in Sussex Inlet against 3.7 in St Georges Basin, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | St Georges Basin cumulative | Sussex Inlet cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $24,147 | $24,547 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $74,636 | $75,872 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $128,200 | $130,323 | $2,123 |
| Year 10 | $276,818 | $281,404 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Georges Basin or Sussex Inlet cheaper to live in?
St Georges Basin is cheaper to run by car at $24,147 per year versus $24,547 for Sussex Inlet, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,547 in St Georges Basin (Shoalhaven rates (OLG) and $1,547 in Sussex Inlet (Shoalhaven rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in St Georges Basin and $1,300 in Sussex Inlet. 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 St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet?
St Georges Basin carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Sussex Inlet carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Public transport costs $2,400 from St Georges Basin and $2,400 from Sussex Inlet.
What is the 10-year cost difference between St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet?
At 3% annual cost growth, St Georges Basin costs a cumulative $276,818 and Sussex Inlet costs $281,404 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of St Georges Basin. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet 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 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.