True annual cost of living in Fairy Meadow, NSW 2519
Living in a house in Fairy Meadow costs about $9,432 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Fairy Meadow sits 65.2 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $10,022, with the $1,800 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 65.2km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $1,815 more per year than public transport users.
About $181 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$10,022
Incl. body corporate
$835/month
About $193 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$590
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Wollongong rates
$1,819
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Sydney Water
$1,548
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 65.2km from CBD · 192 days
$4,215
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire Low
$1,850
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$9,432
($786/month, $181/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
Near Wollongong average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.3/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 83% of Wollongong 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 Fairy Meadow'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 Fairy Meadow
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Fairy Meadow, 398 m away, about a 5 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Victoria Street Private Hospital, 3,153 m away, about a 39 minute walk.
Supermarkets
3
Cafes
7
Parks
36
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-11-03. 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.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Fairy Meadow to the CBD?
Public transport saves Fairy Meadow residents $1,815 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $4,215 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Fairy Meadow?
Fairy Meadow falls under Wollongong Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,819 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 $1,819 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Fairy Meadow?
Running a unit in Fairy Meadow costs approximately $10,022 per year by car or $8,207 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,819, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $1,800, and contents insurance of $640. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Fairy Meadow close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Fairy Meadow is Fairy Meadow, a train stop about 398 m away, about a 5 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 Fairy Meadow?
The closest hospital to the centre of Fairy Meadow is Victoria Street Private Hospital, about 3,153 m away, about a 39 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 Fairy Meadow?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Fairy Meadow there are 3 supermarkets, 7 cafes and 36 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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10-year cost projection
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Data sources: Council rates: Wollongong rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Sydney Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: estimated from ACCC 2026 premium rates for the area's cyclone risk on a standard $600,000 home, adjusted for flood and fire, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data last verified September 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.