True annual cost of living in North Wollongong, NSW 2500
Living in a house in North Wollongong costs about $10,388 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. North Wollongong sits 66.5 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs come in at $9,798, as lower council rates more than offset the $1,800 body corporate levy. At 66.5km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $1,521 more per year than public transport users.
Cheaper to run than 35% 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 North Wollongong'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 North Wollongong
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
North Wollongong, 666 m away, about an 8 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Victoria Street Private Hospital, 1,601 m away, about a 20 minute walk.
Supermarkets
7
Cafes
34
Parks
36
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.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from North Wollongong to the CBD?
Public transport saves North Wollongong residents $1,521 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,921 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in North Wollongong?
North Wollongong 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 North Wollongong?
Running a unit in North Wollongong costs approximately $9,798 per year by car or $8,277 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 $710. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is North Wollongong close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of North Wollongong is North Wollongong, a train stop about 666 m away, about an 8 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 North Wollongong?
The closest hospital to the centre of North Wollongong is Victoria Street Private Hospital, about 1,601 m away, about a 20 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 North Wollongong?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of North Wollongong there are 7 supermarkets, 34 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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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: 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.