Bangor vs Illawong, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bangor and Illawong are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 22.9 km and 21.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $283 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 $3,200, about $6 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 → Neither quite right? Find the Sydney suburbs that fit your budget →Bangor
Illawong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bangor | Illawong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,711 | $5,494 | +$217 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,350 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,726 | $11,009 | -$283 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,415 | $7,915 | -$500 |
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 | Bangor | Illawong | 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, Bangor vs Illawong (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bangor and Illawong differ by $283 a year by car, but $500 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 $217, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Illawong carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,415 from Bangor versus $7,915 from Illawong.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,617 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Illawong by $217 a year, $5,494 against $5,711.
- Building insurance favours Bangor by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 Illawong against medium in Bangor, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bangor cumulative | Illawong cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,726 | $11,009 | $283 |
| Year 3 | $33,153 | $34,028 | $875 |
| Year 5 | $56,946 | $58,448 | $1,502 |
| Year 10 | $122,962 | $126,206 | $3,244 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bangor or Illawong cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bangor runs $10,726 a year by car and Illawong $11,009, but most of the $283 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $217. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bangor and Illawong?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Bangor (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Illawong (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bangor and $1,548 in Illawong. 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 Bangor and Illawong?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,711 from Bangor and $5,494 from Illawong to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bangor and $2,400 from Illawong.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bangor and Illawong?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bangor costs a cumulative $122,962 and Illawong costs $126,206 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,244 in favour of Bangor. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bangor and Illawong 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: Sutherland rates (OLG and Sutherland 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.