Agnes Banks vs Grose Vale, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Agnes Banks and Grose Vale are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 55.1 km and 59.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Grose Vale runs $732 a year cheaper than Agnes Banks, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,391.
Over 10 years, Grose Vale costs about $8,400 less to run than Agnes Banks. That's about $16 a week.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Sydney suburbs that fit your budget →Agnes Banks
Grose Vale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Agnes Banks | Grose Vale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,993 | $5,311 | +$682 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $1,950 | +$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,389 | $10,657 | +$732 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,796 | $7,746 | +$50 |
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 | Agnes Banks | Grose Vale | 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, Agnes Banks vs Grose Vale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Grose Vale costs $732 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,391 in favour of Grose Vale.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $682 per year. Grose Vale is 59.6 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, $7,796 and $7,746 a year, so the $732 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Grose Vale by $682 a year, $5,311 against $5,993.
- Building insurance favours Grose Vale by $50 a year, $1,950 against $2,000.
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 and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Agnes Banks against low in Grose Vale, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Grose Vale against medium in Agnes Banks, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Agnes Banks cumulative | Grose Vale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,389 | $10,657 | $732 |
| Year 3 | $35,202 | $32,940 | $2,262 |
| Year 5 | $60,466 | $56,579 | $3,887 |
| Year 10 | $130,562 | $122,171 | $8,391 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Agnes Banks or Grose Vale cheaper to live in?
Grose Vale is cheaper to run by car at $10,657 per year versus $11,389 for Agnes Banks, a difference of $732 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Agnes Banks and Grose Vale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Agnes Banks (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Grose Vale (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Agnes Banks and $1,548 in Grose Vale. 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 Agnes Banks and Grose Vale?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,993 from Agnes Banks and $5,311 from Grose Vale to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Agnes Banks and $2,400 from Grose Vale.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Agnes Banks and Grose Vale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Agnes Banks costs a cumulative $130,562 and Grose Vale costs $122,171 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,391 in favour of Grose Vale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Agnes Banks and Grose Vale suits you better?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in 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.