Alfords Point vs Lugarno, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Alfords Point (Sutherland rates (OLG) and Lugarno (Georges River rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (21.1 km and 19.3 km).
The two sit within $232 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 the gap between these two is about $2,700, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Lugarno
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Alfords Point | Lugarno | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,447 | +$170 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,429 | $5,117 | +$312 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,386 | +$14 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,600 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,944 | $10,712 | +$232 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,915 | $7,981 | -$66 |
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 | Alfords Point | Lugarno | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Alfords Point vs Lugarno (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Alfords Point and Lugarno differ by $232 a year by car, but $250 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $482, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $312 per year. Alfords Point is 21.1 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, $7,915 and $7,981 a year, so the $232 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Lugarno by $170 a year, $1,447 against $1,617.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lugarno by $312 a year, $5,117 against $5,429.
- Building insurance favours Alfords Point by $250 a year, $2,350 against $2,600.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
The catchment state school scores 8.5 in Lugarno against 6.9 in Alfords Point, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Alfords Point cumulative | Lugarno cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,944 | $10,712 | $232 |
| Year 3 | $33,827 | $33,110 | $717 |
| Year 5 | $58,103 | $56,871 | $1,232 |
| Year 10 | $125,461 | $122,801 | $2,660 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alfords Point or Lugarno cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Alfords Point runs $10,944 a year by car and Lugarno $10,712, but most of the $232 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $482. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Alfords Point and Lugarno?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Alfords Point (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,447 in Lugarno (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Alfords Point and $1,548 in Lugarno. 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 Alfords Point and Lugarno?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,429 from Alfords Point and $5,117 from Lugarno to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Alfords Point and $2,386 from Lugarno.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Alfords Point and Lugarno?
At 3% annual cost growth, Alfords Point costs a cumulative $125,461 and Lugarno costs $122,801 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,660 in favour of Lugarno. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Alfords Point and Lugarno suits you better?
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Sources: Sutherland rates (OLG and Georges River 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.