Bathampton vs Fitzgeralds Valley, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bathampton and Fitzgeralds Valley are both Bathurst Regional rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 18.1 km and 20.5 km from Bathurst CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $134 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 $1,500, about $3 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 →Bathampton
Fitzgeralds Valley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bathampton | Fitzgeralds Valley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,341 | $1,341 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,894 | $5,328 | -$434 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,894 | $5,328 | -$434 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,385 | $9,519 | -$134 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,385 | $9,519 | -$134 |
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 | Bathampton | Fitzgeralds Valley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,257 | $3,257 | - |
| Unit | $2,691 | $2,691 | - |
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, Bathampton vs Fitzgeralds Valley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bathampton and Fitzgeralds Valley differ by $134 a year by car, but $300 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 $434, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $434 per year. Fitzgeralds Valley is 20.5 km from Bathurst CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $9,385 and $9,519 a year, so the $134 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,341 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bathampton by $434 a year, $4,894 against $5,328.
- Building insurance favours Fitzgeralds Valley by $300 a year, $1,550 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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Bathampton against low in Fitzgeralds Valley, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.3 in Bathampton against 4.2 in Fitzgeralds Valley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bathampton cumulative | Fitzgeralds Valley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,385 | $9,519 | $134 |
| Year 3 | $29,008 | $29,422 | $414 |
| Year 5 | $49,826 | $50,538 | $712 |
| Year 10 | $107,589 | $109,125 | $1,536 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bathampton or Fitzgeralds Valley cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bathampton runs $9,385 a year by car and Fitzgeralds Valley $9,519, but most of the $134 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $434. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bathampton and Fitzgeralds Valley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,341 in Bathampton (Bathurst Regional rates (OLG) and $1,341 in Fitzgeralds Valley (Bathurst Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Bathampton and $1,300 in Fitzgeralds Valley. 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 Bathampton and Fitzgeralds Valley?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,894 from Bathampton and $5,328 from Fitzgeralds Valley to Bathurst CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bathampton and Fitzgeralds Valley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bathampton costs a cumulative $107,589 and Fitzgeralds Valley costs $109,125 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,536 in favour of Bathampton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bathampton and Fitzgeralds Valley 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: Bathurst Regional rates (OLG and Bathurst Regional 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.