Bexley vs Kogarah, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bexley (Bayside rates (OLG) and Kogarah (Georges River rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (12.3 km and 12.8 km).
Bexley runs $1,002 a year cheaper than Kogarah, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,487.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,500, about $22 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Kogarah
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bexley | Kogarah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,265 | $1,447 | -$182 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,637 | $3,757 | -$120 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,150 | $1,850 | -$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,600 | $8,602 | -$1,002 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,349 | $7,231 | -$882 |
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 | Bexley | Kogarah | 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, Bexley vs Kogarah (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bexley and Kogarah differ by $1,002 a year by car, but $700 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 $302, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Kogarah carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $882 per year, $6,349 from Bexley versus $7,231 from Kogarah.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Bexley by $182 a year, $1,265 against $1,447.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bexley by $120 a year, $3,637 against $3,757.
- Building insurance favours Bexley by $700 a year, $1,150 against $1,850.
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 Kogarah against low in Bexley, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.2 in Kogarah against 6.1 in Bexley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bexley cumulative | Kogarah cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,600 | $8,602 | $1,002 |
| Year 3 | $23,491 | $26,588 | $3,097 |
| Year 5 | $40,349 | $45,669 | $5,320 |
| Year 10 | $87,125 | $98,612 | $11,487 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bexley or Kogarah cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bexley runs $7,600 a year by car and Kogarah $8,602, but most of the $1,002 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $302. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bexley and Kogarah?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,265 in Bexley (Bayside rates (OLG) and $1,447 in Kogarah (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bexley and $1,548 in Kogarah. 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 Bexley and Kogarah?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,637 from Bexley and $3,757 from Kogarah to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Bexley and $2,386 from Kogarah.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bexley and Kogarah?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bexley costs a cumulative $87,125 and Kogarah costs $98,612 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,487 in favour of Bexley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bexley and Kogarah suits you better?
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Sources: Bayside rates (OLG and Georges River 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.