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88.8 km from CBD
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True annual cost of living in Croom, NSW 2527

Living in a house in Croom costs about $9,292 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Croom sits 88.8 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $9,552, with the $1,800 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 88.8km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $1,479 more per year than public transport users.

Last updated July 2026 · Shellharbour Council rates 2026-27, ATO 91c/km, AER electricity benchmarks

3 key insights

Cheaper to run than 86% of Shellharbour suburbs, about 5% below the regional average.
The commute is the biggest expense at $3,879, roughly 42% of the annual total.
Switching from driving to public transport saves $1,479 a year, a significant saving at this distance.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
Lower cost
House annual cost
$9,292
Driving · per year
$774/month
Unit annual cost
$9,552
Incl. body corporate
$796/month
House vs unit difference
+$260
Unit costs more per year

Annual cost breakdown

Council rates
Shellharbour rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$1,865
Water & sewerage
Sydney Water 2026-27
$1,548
Driving commute
ATO 91c/km · 88.8km from CBD · 192 days
$3,879
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Low · fire Medium
$2,000
Total annual running cost
$9,292
($774/month)
↓ 5% below Shellharbour average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○ 7.2/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 86% of Shellharbour suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).

Estimated electricity cost

typical 2-person household
House
$2,442/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$2,001/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Croom's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for its electricity network. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.

Getting around Croom

within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Oak Flats, 2,860 m away, about a 36 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Shellharbour Hospital, 5,149 m away, about a 64 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
9
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-08-07. Distances are straight line from that centre, so a specific address can be closer or further. Mapping is contributed and can lag a new opening.

Compare Croom with another suburb

Frequently asked questions about Croom

Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Croom to the CBD?

Public transport saves Croom residents $1,479 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,879 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.

What are the council rates in Croom?

Croom falls under Shellharbour Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,865 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,865 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.

What does it cost to run a unit in Croom?

Running a unit in Croom costs approximately $9,552 per year by car or $8,073 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,865, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $460. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.

Is Croom close to public transport?

The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Croom is Oak Flats, a train stop about 2,860 m away, about a 36 minute walk. That is measured from the suburb centre, so an individual address can be nearer or further. The commute figure used in the running cost on this page assumes driving, not this service.

What is the closest hospital to Croom?

The closest hospital to the centre of Croom is Shellharbour Hospital, about 5,149 m away, about a 64 minute walk. Distance is straight line from the suburb centre and does not account for the road route or whether the hospital has an emergency department.

What shops and parks are in Croom?

Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Croom there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 9 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.

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Data sources: Council rates: Shellharbour rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Sydney Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07.
Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.