Bankstown vs Mount Lewis: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bankstown and Mount Lewis are both Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 17.3 km and 15.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Mount Lewis runs $799 a year cheaper than Bankstown, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,160.
Over 10 years, Mount Lewis costs about $9,200 less to run than Bankstown — the same as paying $9,200 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Bankstown
Mount Lewis
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bankstown | Mount Lewis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,738 | $4,389 | +$349 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,963 | $9,164 | +$799 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,611 | $7,161 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bankstown | Mount Lewis | 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 — Bankstown vs Mount Lewis (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mount Lewis costs $799 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,160 in favour of Mount Lewis.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Bankstown carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,611 from Bankstown versus $7,161 from Mount Lewis.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Mount Lewis by $349 a year, $4,389 against $4,738.
- Building insurance favours Mount Lewis by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
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 medium in Bankstown against low in Mount Lewis, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.2 in Mount Lewis against 5.1 in Bankstown, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bankstown cumulative | Mount Lewis cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,963 | $9,164 | $799 |
| Year 3 | $30,795 | $28,325 | $2,470 |
| Year 5 | $52,895 | $48,653 | $4,242 |
| Year 10 | $114,215 | $105,055 | $9,160 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bankstown or Mount Lewis cheaper to live in?
Mount Lewis is cheaper to run by car at $9,164 per year versus $9,963 for Bankstown, a difference of $799 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bankstown and Mount Lewis?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,377 in Bankstown (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Mount Lewis (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bankstown and $1,548 in Mount Lewis. 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 Bankstown and Mount Lewis?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,738 from Bankstown and $4,389 from Mount Lewis to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Bankstown and $2,386 from Mount Lewis.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bankstown and Mount Lewis?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bankstown costs a cumulative $114,215 and Mount Lewis costs $105,055 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,160 in favour of Mount Lewis. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bankstown and Mount Lewis is best to actually live in?
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: Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG and Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.