Woronora Heights vs Yarrawarrah: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Woronora Heights and Yarrawarrah are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 24.8 km and 26.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Yarrawarrah runs $624 a year cheaper than Woronora Heights, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,153.
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 →Woronora Heights
Yarrawarrah
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Woronora Heights | Yarrawarrah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,979 | $6,205 | -$226 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,000 | $2,150 | +$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,100 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $12,144 | $11,520 | +$624 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,565 | $7,715 | +$850 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Woronora Heights | Yarrawarrah | 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 — Woronora Heights vs Yarrawarrah (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Yarrawarrah costs $624 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,153 in favour of Yarrawarrah.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $850 per year. Woronora Heights carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $850 per year, $8,565 from Woronora Heights versus $7,715 from Yarrawarrah.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,617 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Woronora Heights by $226 a year, $5,979 against $6,205.
- Building insurance favours Yarrawarrah by $850 a year, $2,150 against $3,000.
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 Woronora Heights against low in Yarrawarrah, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Woronora Heights against medium in Yarrawarrah, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Woronora Heights cumulative | Yarrawarrah cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,144 | $11,520 | $624 |
| Year 3 | $37,536 | $35,607 | $1,929 |
| Year 5 | $64,474 | $61,161 | $3,313 |
| Year 10 | $139,217 | $132,064 | $7,153 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Woronora Heights or Yarrawarrah cheaper to live in?
Yarrawarrah is cheaper to run by car at $11,520 per year versus $12,144 for Woronora Heights, a difference of $624 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Woronora Heights and Yarrawarrah?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Woronora Heights (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Yarrawarrah (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Woronora Heights and $1,548 in Yarrawarrah. 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 Woronora Heights and Yarrawarrah?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,979 from Woronora Heights and $6,205 from Yarrawarrah to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Woronora Heights and $2,400 from Yarrawarrah.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Woronora Heights and Yarrawarrah?
At 3% annual cost growth, Woronora Heights costs a cumulative $139,217 and Yarrawarrah costs $132,064 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,153 in favour of Yarrawarrah. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Woronora Heights and Yarrawarrah 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: Sutherland rates (OLG and Sutherland 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.