Bardwell Valley vs Turrella, 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 and Turrella are both Bayside rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 10.4 km and 9.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $110 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 $1,300, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Turrella
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bardwell Valley | Turrella | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,265 | $1,265 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,162 | $2,872 | +$290 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $1,920 | +$466 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,425 | $7,535 | -$110 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,649 | $6,583 | +$66 |
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 | Turrella | 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 Turrella (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bardwell Valley and Turrella differ by $110 a year by car, but $400 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 $290, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Turrella carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,649 and $6,583 a year, so the $110 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,265 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Turrella by $290 a year, $2,872 against $3,162.
- Building insurance favours Bardwell Valley by $400 a year, $1,450 against $1,850.
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 high in Turrella against medium in Bardwell Valley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bardwell Valley cumulative | Turrella cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,425 | $7,535 | $110 |
| Year 3 | $22,950 | $23,290 | $340 |
| Year 5 | $39,420 | $40,004 | $584 |
| Year 10 | $85,119 | $86,380 | $1,261 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bardwell Valley or Turrella cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bardwell Valley runs $7,425 a year by car and Turrella $7,535, but most of the $110 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $290. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bardwell Valley and Turrella?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,265 in Bardwell Valley (Bayside rates (OLG) and $1,265 in Turrella (Bayside rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bardwell Valley and $1,548 in Turrella. 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 Turrella?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,162 from Bardwell Valley and $2,872 from Turrella to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Bardwell Valley and $1,920 from Turrella.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bardwell Valley and Turrella?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bardwell Valley costs a cumulative $85,119 and Turrella costs $86,380 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,261 in favour of Bardwell Valley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bardwell Valley and Turrella suits you better?
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Sources: Bayside rates (OLG and Bayside 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.