Balcolyn vs Silverwater, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Balcolyn and Silverwater are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 91.9 km and 91.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Balcolyn runs $429 a year cheaper than Silverwater, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,918.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,900, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Silverwater
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balcolyn | Silverwater | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,014 | $3,993 | +$21 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $2,250 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,954 | $9,383 | -$429 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,340 | $7,790 | -$450 |
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 | Balcolyn | Silverwater | 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, Balcolyn vs Silverwater (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Balcolyn and Silverwater differ by $429 a year by car, but $450 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 $21, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Silverwater carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,340 from Balcolyn versus $7,790 from Silverwater.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Silverwater by $21 a year, $3,993 against $4,014.
- Building insurance favours Balcolyn by $450 a year, $1,800 against $2,250.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Silverwater against low in Balcolyn, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balcolyn cumulative | Silverwater cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,954 | $9,383 | $429 |
| Year 3 | $27,676 | $29,002 | $1,326 |
| Year 5 | $47,538 | $49,816 | $2,278 |
| Year 10 | $102,648 | $107,566 | $4,918 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balcolyn or Silverwater cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Balcolyn runs $8,954 a year by car and Silverwater $9,383, but most of the $429 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $21. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balcolyn and Silverwater?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Balcolyn (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Silverwater (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Balcolyn and $1,377 in Silverwater. 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 Balcolyn and Silverwater?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,014 from Balcolyn and $3,993 from Silverwater to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Balcolyn and $2,400 from Silverwater.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balcolyn and Silverwater?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balcolyn costs a cumulative $102,648 and Silverwater costs $107,566 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,918 in favour of Balcolyn. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balcolyn and Silverwater suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.