Abbotsbury vs Horsley Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Abbotsbury and Horsley Park are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 31.9 km and 33.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $102 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years, Abbotsbury costs about $1,200 less to run than Horsley Park. That's about $2 a week.
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Horsley Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Abbotsbury | Horsley Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,702 | $6,804 | -$102 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,130 | $11,232 | -$102 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,828 | $6,828 | - |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Abbotsbury | Horsley Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Abbotsbury vs Horsley Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Abbotsbury and Horsley Park cost within $102 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $1,169, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $102 per year. Horsley Park is 33.5 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,828 and $6,828 a year, so the $102 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,030 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Abbotsbury by $102 a year, $6,702 against $6,804.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,850 a year.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance.
The catchment state school scores 5.5 in Abbotsbury against 4.3 in Horsley Park, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Abbotsbury cumulative | Horsley Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,130 | $11,232 | $102 |
| Year 3 | $34,402 | $34,717 | $315 |
| Year 5 | $59,091 | $59,632 | $541 |
| Year 10 | $127,593 | $128,762 | $1,169 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Abbotsbury or Horsley Park cheaper to live in?
Abbotsbury is cheaper to run by car at $11,130 per year versus $11,232 for Horsley Park, a difference of $102 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Abbotsbury and Horsley Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Abbotsbury (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in Horsley Park (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Abbotsbury and $1,548 in Horsley Park. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Abbotsbury and Horsley Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,702 from Abbotsbury and $6,804 from Horsley Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Abbotsbury and $2,400 from Horsley Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Abbotsbury and Horsley Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Abbotsbury costs a cumulative $127,593 and Horsley Park costs $128,762 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,169 in favour of Abbotsbury. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Abbotsbury and Horsley Park suits you better?
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Sources: Fairfield rates (OLG and Fairfield rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.