Bligh Park vs Mulgrave, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bligh Park and Mulgrave are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 45.2 km and 44.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bligh Park runs $971 a year cheaper than Mulgrave, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,132.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,100, about $21 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mulgrave
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bligh Park | Mulgrave | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,871 | $6,892 | -$21 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,400 | $2,350 | -$950 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,667 | $12,638 | -$971 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,196 | $8,146 | -$950 |
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 | Bligh Park | Mulgrave | 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, Bligh Park vs Mulgrave (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bligh Park and Mulgrave differ by $971 a year by car, but $950 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 $21, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $950 per year. Mulgrave carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $950 per year, $7,196 from Bligh Park versus $8,146 from Mulgrave.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bligh Park by $21 a year, $6,871 against $6,892.
- Building insurance favours Bligh Park by $950 a year, $1,400 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 Mulgrave against medium in Bligh Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Mulgrave against low in Bligh Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bligh Park cumulative | Mulgrave cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,667 | $12,638 | $971 |
| Year 3 | $36,062 | $39,063 | $3,001 |
| Year 5 | $61,942 | $67,097 | $5,155 |
| Year 10 | $133,749 | $144,881 | $11,132 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bligh Park or Mulgrave cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bligh Park runs $11,667 a year by car and Mulgrave $12,638, but most of the $971 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $21. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bligh Park and Mulgrave?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Bligh Park (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Mulgrave (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bligh Park and $1,548 in Mulgrave. 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 Bligh Park and Mulgrave?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,871 from Bligh Park and $6,892 from Mulgrave to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bligh Park and $2,400 from Mulgrave.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bligh Park and Mulgrave?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bligh Park costs a cumulative $133,749 and Mulgrave costs $144,881 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,132 in favour of Bligh Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bligh Park and Mulgrave suits you better?
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Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in 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.