Bardia vs Macquarie Links, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bardia and Macquarie Links are both Campbelltown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 34.3 km and 32.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $271 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 $3,100, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Macquarie Links
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bardia | Macquarie Links | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,497 | $1,497 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,847 | $6,768 | +$79 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,200 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,742 | $12,013 | -$271 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,295 | $7,645 | -$350 |
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 | Bardia | Macquarie Links | 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, Bardia vs Macquarie Links (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bardia and Macquarie Links differ by $271 a year by car, but $350 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 $79, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Macquarie Links carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,295 from Bardia versus $7,645 from Macquarie Links.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,497 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Macquarie Links by $79 a year, $6,768 against $6,847.
- Building insurance favours Bardia by $350 a year, $1,850 against $2,200.
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 Macquarie Links against low in Bardia, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bardia cumulative | Macquarie Links cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,742 | $12,013 | $271 |
| Year 3 | $36,293 | $37,131 | $838 |
| Year 5 | $62,340 | $63,779 | $1,439 |
| Year 10 | $134,609 | $137,716 | $3,107 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bardia or Macquarie Links cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bardia runs $11,742 a year by car and Macquarie Links $12,013, but most of the $271 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $79. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bardia and Macquarie Links?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,497 in Bardia (Campbelltown rates (OLG) and $1,497 in Macquarie Links (Campbelltown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bardia and $1,548 in Macquarie Links. 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 Bardia and Macquarie Links?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,847 from Bardia and $6,768 from Macquarie Links to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bardia and $2,400 from Macquarie Links.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bardia and Macquarie Links?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bardia costs a cumulative $134,609 and Macquarie Links costs $137,716 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,107 in favour of Bardia. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bardia and Macquarie Links suits you better?
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Sources: Campbelltown rates (OLG and Campbelltown 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.