Bardwell Park vs Earlwood, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bardwell Park (Bayside rates (OLG) and Earlwood (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (10.5 km and 9.8 km).
Bardwell Park runs $830 a year cheaper than Earlwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,515.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,500, about $18 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Earlwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bardwell Park | Earlwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,265 | $1,377 | -$112 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,187 | $3,005 | +$182 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $1,920 | +$466 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $2,350 | -$900 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,450 | $8,280 | -$830 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,649 | $7,195 | -$546 |
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 | Bardwell Park | Earlwood | 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, Bardwell Park vs Earlwood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bardwell Park and Earlwood differ by $830 a year by car, but $900 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 $70, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $900 per year. Earlwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $546 per year, $6,649 from Bardwell Park versus $7,195 from Earlwood.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Bardwell Park by $112 a year, $1,265 against $1,377.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Earlwood by $182 a year, $3,005 against $3,187.
- Building insurance favours Bardwell Park by $900 a year, $1,450 against $2,350.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Earlwood against medium in Bardwell Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bardwell Park cumulative | Earlwood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,450 | $8,280 | $830 |
| Year 3 | $23,027 | $25,593 | $2,566 |
| Year 5 | $39,553 | $43,960 | $4,407 |
| Year 10 | $85,406 | $94,921 | $9,515 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bardwell Park or Earlwood cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bardwell Park runs $7,450 a year by car and Earlwood $8,280, but most of the $830 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $70. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bardwell Park and Earlwood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,265 in Bardwell Park (Bayside rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Earlwood (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bardwell Park and $1,548 in Earlwood. 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 Bardwell Park and Earlwood?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,187 from Bardwell Park and $3,005 from Earlwood to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Bardwell Park and $1,920 from Earlwood.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bardwell Park and Earlwood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bardwell Park costs a cumulative $85,406 and Earlwood costs $94,921 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,515 in favour of Bardwell Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bardwell Park and Earlwood suits you better?
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Sources: Bayside 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.