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.
Blair Athol runs $307 a year cheaper than Campbelltown, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,520.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Blair Athol
Campbelltown
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blair Athol | Campbelltown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,497 | $1,497 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,947 | $6,954 | -$7 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,150 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,842 | $12,149 | -$307 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,295 | $7,595 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $307 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,520 in favour of Blair Athol.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,295 from Blair Athol versus $7,595 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 $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
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 | $11,842 | $12,149 | $307 |
| Year 3 | $36,602 | $37,551 | $949 |
| Year 5 | $62,871 | $64,501 | $1,630 |
| Year 10 | $135,755 | $139,275 | $3,520 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blair Athol or Campbelltown cheaper to live in?
Blair Athol is cheaper to run by car at $11,842 per year versus $12,149 for Campbelltown, a difference of $307 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $135,755 and Campbelltown costs $139,275 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,520 in favour of Blair Athol. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blair Athol and Campbelltown is best to actually live in?
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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.