Bligh Park vs South Windsor: 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 South Windsor are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 45.2 km and 45.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bligh Park runs $921 a year cheaper than South Windsor, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,558.
Over 10 years, Bligh Park costs about $10,600 less to run than South Windsor — the same as paying $10,600 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Bligh Park
South Windsor
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bligh Park | South Windsor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,871 | $6,842 | +$29 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $3,250 | -$950 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,567 | $13,488 | -$921 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,096 | $9,046 | -$950 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bligh Park | South Windsor | 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 South Windsor (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bligh Park costs $921 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $10,558 in favour of Bligh Park.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $950 per year. South Windsor carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $950 per year, $8,096 from Bligh Park versus $9,046 from South Windsor.
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 South Windsor by $29 a year, $6,842 against $6,871.
- Building insurance favours Bligh Park by $950 a year, $2,300 against $3,250.
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 South Windsor against medium in Bligh Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in South Windsor against low in Bligh Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.7 in Bligh Park against 2.5 in South Windsor, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bligh Park cumulative | South Windsor cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,567 | $13,488 | $921 |
| Year 3 | $38,843 | $41,690 | $2,847 |
| Year 5 | $66,720 | $71,610 | $4,890 |
| Year 10 | $144,067 | $154,625 | $10,558 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bligh Park or South Windsor cheaper to live in?
Bligh Park is cheaper to run by car at $12,567 per year versus $13,488 for South Windsor, a difference of $921 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bligh Park and South Windsor?
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 South Windsor (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bligh Park and $1,548 in South Windsor. 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 South Windsor?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,871 from Bligh Park and $6,842 from South Windsor to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bligh Park and $2,400 from South Windsor.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bligh Park and South Windsor?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bligh Park costs a cumulative $144,067 and South Windsor costs $154,625 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,558 in favour of Bligh Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bligh Park and South Windsor 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.