Blair Athol vs Campbelltown, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blair Athol and Campbelltown are both Campbelltown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 43.1 km and 42.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $257 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 $2,900, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Campbelltown
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blair Athol | Campbelltown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,497 | $1,497 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,947 | $6,954 | -$7 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,850 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,592 | $11,849 | -$257 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,045 | $7,295 | -$250 |
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 | Blair Athol | Campbelltown | 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, Blair Athol vs Campbelltown (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Blair Athol and Campbelltown differ by $257 a year by car, but $250 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 $7, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,045 from Blair Athol versus $7,295 from Campbelltown.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,497 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Blair Athol by $7 a year, $6,947 against $6,954.
- Building insurance favours Blair Athol by $250 a year, $1,600 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 Campbelltown against low in Blair Athol, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blair Athol cumulative | Campbelltown cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,592 | $11,849 | $257 |
| Year 3 | $35,830 | $36,624 | $794 |
| Year 5 | $61,544 | $62,908 | $1,364 |
| Year 10 | $132,889 | $135,836 | $2,947 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blair Athol or Campbelltown cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Blair Athol runs $11,592 a year by car and Campbelltown $11,849, but most of the $257 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $7. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blair Athol and Campbelltown?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,497 in Blair Athol (Campbelltown rates (OLG) and $1,497 in Campbelltown (Campbelltown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Blair Athol and $1,548 in Campbelltown. 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 Blair Athol and Campbelltown?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,947 from Blair Athol and $6,954 from Campbelltown to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Blair Athol and $2,400 from Campbelltown.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blair Athol and Campbelltown?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blair Athol costs a cumulative $132,889 and Campbelltown costs $135,836 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,947 in favour of Blair Athol. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blair Athol and Campbelltown suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Campbelltown rates (OLG and Campbelltown 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.