Balcolyn vs Yarrawonga 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
Balcolyn and Yarrawonga Park are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 91.9 km and 91 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Balcolyn runs $411 a year cheaper than Yarrawonga Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,711.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,700, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Yarrawonga Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balcolyn | Yarrawonga Park | 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 | $3,975 | +$39 |
| 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 | $9,365 | -$411 |
| 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 | Yarrawonga Park | 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 Yarrawonga Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Balcolyn and Yarrawonga Park differ by $411 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 $39, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Yarrawonga Park 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 Yarrawonga Park.
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 Yarrawonga Park by $39 a year, $3,975 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 Yarrawonga Park against low in Balcolyn, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balcolyn cumulative | Yarrawonga Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,954 | $9,365 | $411 |
| Year 3 | $27,676 | $28,946 | $1,270 |
| Year 5 | $47,538 | $49,720 | $2,182 |
| Year 10 | $102,648 | $107,359 | $4,711 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balcolyn or Yarrawonga Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Balcolyn runs $8,954 a year by car and Yarrawonga Park $9,365, but most of the $411 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $39. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balcolyn and Yarrawonga Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Balcolyn (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Yarrawonga Park (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Balcolyn and $1,377 in Yarrawonga 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 Balcolyn and Yarrawonga Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,014 from Balcolyn and $3,975 from Yarrawonga Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Balcolyn and $2,400 from Yarrawonga Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balcolyn and Yarrawonga Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balcolyn costs a cumulative $102,648 and Yarrawonga Park costs $107,359 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,711 in favour of Balcolyn. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balcolyn and Yarrawonga Park 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.