Bardwell Valley 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 Valley (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 (10.4 km and 9.8 km).
Bardwell Valley runs $855 a year cheaper than Earlwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,802.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,800, about $19 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 →Bardwell Valley
Earlwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bardwell Valley | 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 | $3,162 | $3,005 | +$157 |
| 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) | $7,425 | $8,280 | -$855 |
| 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 Valley | 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 Valley vs Earlwood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bardwell Valley and Earlwood differ by $855 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 $45, 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 Valley versus $7,195 from Earlwood.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Bardwell Valley by $112 a year, $1,265 against $1,377.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Earlwood by $157 a year, $3,005 against $3,162.
- Building insurance favours Bardwell Valley 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 Valley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bardwell Valley cumulative | Earlwood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,425 | $8,280 | $855 |
| Year 3 | $22,950 | $25,593 | $2,643 |
| Year 5 | $39,420 | $43,960 | $4,540 |
| Year 10 | $85,119 | $94,921 | $9,802 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bardwell Valley or Earlwood cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bardwell Valley runs $7,425 a year by car and Earlwood $8,280, but most of the $855 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $45. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bardwell Valley and Earlwood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,265 in Bardwell Valley (Bayside rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Earlwood (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bardwell Valley 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 Valley and Earlwood?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,162 from Bardwell Valley and $3,005 from Earlwood to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Bardwell Valley and $1,920 from Earlwood.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bardwell Valley and Earlwood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bardwell Valley costs a cumulative $85,119 and Earlwood costs $94,921 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,802 in favour of Bardwell Valley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bardwell Valley and Earlwood 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: 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.