Blakehurst vs South Hurstville, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blakehurst and South Hurstville are both Georges River rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 16 km and 15.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
South Hurstville runs $977 a year cheaper than Blakehurst, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,200.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,200, about $22 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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South Hurstville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blakehurst | South Hurstville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,447 | $1,447 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,472 | $4,345 | +$127 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,500 | +$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,817 | $8,840 | +$977 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,731 | $6,881 | +$850 |
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 | Blakehurst | South Hurstville | 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, Blakehurst vs South Hurstville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Blakehurst and South Hurstville differ by $977 a year by car, but $850 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 $127, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $850 per year. Blakehurst carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $850 per year, $7,731 from Blakehurst versus $6,881 from South Hurstville.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,447 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours South Hurstville by $127 a year, $4,345 against $4,472.
- Building insurance favours South Hurstville by $850 a year, $1,500 against $2,350.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Blakehurst against low in South Hurstville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blakehurst cumulative | South Hurstville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,817 | $8,840 | $977 |
| Year 3 | $30,343 | $27,324 | $3,019 |
| Year 5 | $52,120 | $46,933 | $5,187 |
| Year 10 | $112,541 | $101,341 | $11,200 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blakehurst or South Hurstville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Blakehurst runs $9,817 a year by car and South Hurstville $8,840, but most of the $977 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $127. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blakehurst and South Hurstville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,447 in Blakehurst (Georges River rates (OLG) and $1,447 in South Hurstville (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Blakehurst and $1,548 in South Hurstville. 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 Blakehurst and South Hurstville?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,472 from Blakehurst and $4,345 from South Hurstville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Blakehurst and $2,386 from South Hurstville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blakehurst and South Hurstville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blakehurst costs a cumulative $112,541 and South Hurstville costs $101,341 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,200 in favour of South Hurstville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blakehurst and South Hurstville suits you better?
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Sources: Georges River 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.