True annual cost of living in Wollongong, NSW 2500
Living in a house in Wollongong costs about $8,805 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Wollongong sits 67.9 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $9,395, with the $1,800 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 67.9km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $1,188 more per year than public transport users.
About $169 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$9,395
Incl. body corporate
$783/month
About $181 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 · 67.9km from CBD · 192 days
$3,588
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire Low
$1,850
Body corporate
Estimated
$1,800
Total annual running cost
$8,805
($734/month, $169/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
↓ 8% below Wollongong average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○6.9/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 88% 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 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 Wollongong
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Unnamed, 1,023 m away, about a 13 minute walk. It is a bus stop.
Nearest hospital
Victoria Street Private Hospital, 717 m away, about a 9 minute walk.
Supermarkets
6
Cafes
39
Parks
21
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 Wollongong to the CBD?
Public transport saves Wollongong residents $1,188 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,588 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Wollongong?
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 Wollongong?
Running a unit in Wollongong costs approximately $9,395 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 Wollongong close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Wollongong is Unnamed, a bus stop about 1,023 m away, about a 13 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 Wollongong?
The closest hospital to the centre of Wollongong is Victoria Street Private Hospital, about 717 m away, about a 9 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 Wollongong?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Wollongong there are 6 supermarkets, 39 cafes and 21 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
School scores & catchments
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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.