Berkshire Park vs Melonba, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Berkshire Park (Penrith rates (OLG) and Melonba (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (44 km and 43 km).
The two sit within $286 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 $3,300, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Melonba
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Berkshire Park | Melonba | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,604 | $1,360 | +$244 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,919 | $6,949 | -$30 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,350 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,921 | $12,207 | -$286 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,402 | $7,658 | -$256 |
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 | Berkshire Park | Melonba | 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, Berkshire Park vs Melonba (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Berkshire Park and Melonba differ by $286 a year by car, but $500 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 $214, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Melonba carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $256 per year, $7,402 from Berkshire Park versus $7,658 from Melonba.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Melonba by $244 a year, $1,360 against $1,604.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Berkshire Park by $30 a year, $6,919 against $6,949.
- Building insurance favours Berkshire Park by $500 a year, $1,850 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 Melonba against medium in Berkshire Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Berkshire Park against low in Melonba, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Berkshire Park cumulative | Melonba cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,921 | $12,207 | $286 |
| Year 3 | $36,847 | $37,731 | $884 |
| Year 5 | $63,290 | $64,809 | $1,519 |
| Year 10 | $136,661 | $139,940 | $3,279 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Berkshire Park or Melonba cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Berkshire Park runs $11,921 a year by car and Melonba $12,207, but most of the $286 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $214. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Berkshire Park and Melonba?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,604 in Berkshire Park (Penrith rates (OLG) and $1,360 in Melonba (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Berkshire Park and $1,548 in Melonba. 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 Berkshire Park and Melonba?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,919 from Berkshire Park and $6,949 from Melonba to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Berkshire Park and $2,400 from Melonba.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Berkshire Park and Melonba?
At 3% annual cost growth, Berkshire Park costs a cumulative $136,661 and Melonba costs $139,940 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,279 in favour of Berkshire Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Berkshire Park and Melonba suits you better?
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Sources: Penrith rates (OLG and Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for 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.