Balmoral Village vs Buxton, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Balmoral Village (Wingecarribee rates (OLG) and Buxton (Wollondilly rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (78.8 km and 75.5 km).
Balmoral Village runs $359 a year cheaper than Buxton, driven mostly by water. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,115.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,100, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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 →Balmoral Village
Buxton
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balmoral Village | Buxton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,140 | $2,195 | -$55 |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,548 | -$248 |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,442 | $3,298 | +$144 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,050 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,732 | $9,091 | -$359 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,690 | $8,193 | -$503 |
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 | Balmoral Village | Buxton | 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, Balmoral Village vs Buxton (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Balmoral Village and Buxton differ by $359 a year by car, but $200 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 $159, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is water and sewerage at $248 per year.
On public transport the gap is $503 per year, $7,690 from Balmoral Village versus $8,193 from Buxton.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Balmoral Village by $55 a year, $2,140 against $2,195.
- Water and sewerage favours Balmoral Village by $248 a year, $1,300 against $1,548.
- Driving commute favours Buxton by $144 a year, $3,298 against $3,442.
- Building insurance favours Balmoral Village by $200 a year, $1,850 against $2,050.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balmoral Village cumulative | Buxton cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,732 | $9,091 | $359 |
| Year 3 | $26,990 | $28,099 | $1,109 |
| Year 5 | $46,359 | $48,265 | $1,906 |
| Year 10 | $100,103 | $104,218 | $4,115 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balmoral Village or Buxton cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Balmoral Village runs $8,732 a year by car and Buxton $9,091, but most of the $359 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $159. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balmoral Village and Buxton?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,140 in Balmoral Village (Wingecarribee rates (OLG) and $2,195 in Buxton (Wollondilly rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Balmoral Village and $1,548 in Buxton. 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 Balmoral Village and Buxton?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,442 from Balmoral Village and $3,298 from Buxton to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Balmoral Village and $2,400 from Buxton.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balmoral Village and Buxton?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balmoral Village costs a cumulative $100,103 and Buxton costs $104,218 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,115 in favour of Balmoral Village. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balmoral Village and Buxton 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: Wingecarribee rates (OLG and Wollondilly 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.