True annual cost of living in Saddleback Mountain, NSW 2533
Living in a house in Saddleback Mountain costs about $9,857 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Saddleback Mountain sits 99.6 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $10,117, with the $1,800 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 99.6km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $1,950 more per year than public transport users.
Cheaper to run than 89% of Kiama 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 Saddleback Mountain'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 Saddleback Mountain
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Gerringong, 5,213 m away, about a 65 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Kiama Hospital & Community Health Service, 4,737 m away, about a 59 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
1
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.
Frequently asked questions about Saddleback Mountain
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Saddleback Mountain to the CBD?
Public transport saves Saddleback Mountain residents $1,950 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $4,350 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Saddleback Mountain?
Saddleback Mountain falls under Kiama Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,959 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 $1,959 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Saddleback Mountain?
Running a unit in Saddleback Mountain costs approximately $10,117 per year by car or $8,167 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,959, 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 Saddleback Mountain close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Saddleback Mountain is Gerringong, a train stop about 5,213 m away, about a 65 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 Saddleback Mountain?
The closest hospital to the centre of Saddleback Mountain is Kiama Hospital & Community Health Service, about 4,737 m away, about a 59 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 Saddleback Mountain?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Saddleback Mountain there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 1 park. 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: Kiama 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.