Tacoma South vs Tuggerah, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Tacoma South and Tuggerah are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 67.6 km and 65.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $170 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 $1,900, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tuggerah
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Tacoma South | Tuggerah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,662 | $4,082 | -$420 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $2,000 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,666 | $8,836 | -$170 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,404 | $7,154 | +$250 |
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 | Tacoma South | Tuggerah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Tacoma South vs Tuggerah (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Tacoma South and Tuggerah differ by $170 a year by car, but $250 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 $420, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $420 per year. Tacoma South is 67.6 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,404 from Tacoma South versus $7,154 from Tuggerah.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,454 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Tacoma South by $420 a year, $3,662 against $4,082.
- Building insurance favours Tuggerah by $250 a year, $2,000 against $2,250.
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 high in Tacoma South against medium in Tuggerah, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.8 in Tuggerah against 4.5 in Tacoma South, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Tacoma South cumulative | Tuggerah cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,666 | $8,836 | $170 |
| Year 3 | $26,786 | $27,311 | $525 |
| Year 5 | $46,009 | $46,912 | $903 |
| Year 10 | $99,346 | $101,295 | $1,949 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tacoma South or Tuggerah cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Tacoma South runs $8,666 a year by car and Tuggerah $8,836, but most of the $170 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $420. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Tacoma South and Tuggerah?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Tacoma South (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Tuggerah (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Tacoma South and $1,300 in Tuggerah. 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 Tacoma South and Tuggerah?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,662 from Tacoma South and $4,082 from Tuggerah to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Tacoma South and $2,400 from Tuggerah.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Tacoma South and Tuggerah?
At 3% annual cost growth, Tacoma South costs a cumulative $99,346 and Tuggerah costs $101,295 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,949 in favour of Tacoma South. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Tacoma South and Tuggerah suits you better?
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Sources: Central Coast rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.