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 $649 a year cheaper than Bankstown, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,440.
Over 10 years, Mount Lewis costs about $7,400 less to run than Bankstown. That's about $14 a week.
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 →Bankstown
Mount Lewis
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bankstown | Mount Lewis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,738 | $4,389 | +$349 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,300 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,263 | $8,614 | +$649 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,911 | $6,611 | +$300 |
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 | 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 $649 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,440 in favour of Mount Lewis.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $349 per year. Bankstown is 17.3 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $6,911 from Bankstown versus $6,611 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 $300 a year, $1,300 against $1,600.
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 | $9,263 | $8,614 | $649 |
| Year 3 | $28,631 | $26,625 | $2,006 |
| Year 5 | $49,179 | $45,733 | $3,446 |
| Year 10 | $106,190 | $98,750 | $7,440 |
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 $8,614 per year versus $9,263 for Bankstown, a difference of $649 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 $106,190 and Mount Lewis costs $98,750 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,440 in favour of Mount Lewis. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bankstown and Mount Lewis 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: 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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.