Wallacia vs Warragamba, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Wallacia and Warragamba are both Wollondilly rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 53.5 km and 56.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Warragamba runs $400 a year cheaper than Wallacia, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,585.
Over 10 years, Warragamba costs about $4,600 less to run than Wallacia. That's about $9 a week.
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Warragamba
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Wallacia | Warragamba | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,195 | $2,195 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,193 | $5,843 | +$350 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $2,050 | +$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,036 | $11,636 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,243 | $8,193 | +$50 |
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 | Wallacia | Warragamba | 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, Wallacia vs Warragamba (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Warragamba costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,585 in favour of Warragamba.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $350 per year. Warragamba is 56.2 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $8,243 and $8,193 a year, so the $400 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $2,195 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Warragamba by $350 a year, $5,843 against $6,193.
- Building insurance favours Warragamba by $50 a year, $2,050 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 medium in Wallacia against low in Warragamba, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Warragamba against medium in Wallacia, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Wallacia cumulative | Warragamba cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,036 | $11,636 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $37,202 | $35,966 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $63,901 | $61,777 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $137,979 | $133,394 | $4,585 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wallacia or Warragamba cheaper to live in?
Warragamba is cheaper to run by car at $11,636 per year versus $12,036 for Wallacia, 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 Wallacia and Warragamba?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,195 in Wallacia (Wollondilly rates (OLG) and $2,195 in Warragamba (Wollondilly rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Wallacia and $1,548 in Warragamba. 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 Wallacia and Warragamba?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,193 from Wallacia and $5,843 from Warragamba to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Wallacia and $2,400 from Warragamba.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Wallacia and Warragamba?
At 3% annual cost growth, Wallacia costs a cumulative $137,979 and Warragamba costs $133,394 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,585 in favour of Warragamba. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Wallacia and Warragamba suits you better?
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Sources: Wollondilly rates (OLG and Wollondilly 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.