Bonnells Bay vs Windermere Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bonnells Bay and Windermere Park are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 89.8 km and 88.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $243 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 $2,800, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Windermere Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bonnells Bay | Windermere Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,922 | $3,879 | +$43 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $1,800 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,062 | $8,819 | +$243 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,540 | $7,340 | +$200 |
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 | Bonnells Bay | Windermere Park | 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, Bonnells Bay vs Windermere Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bonnells Bay and Windermere Park differ by $243 a year by car, but $200 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 $43, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Bonnells Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,540 from Bonnells Bay versus $7,340 from Windermere Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Windermere Park by $43 a year, $3,879 against $3,922.
- Building insurance favours Windermere Park by $200 a year, $1,800 against $2,000.
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 Bonnells Bay against low in Windermere Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bonnells Bay cumulative | Windermere Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,062 | $8,819 | $243 |
| Year 3 | $28,010 | $27,259 | $751 |
| Year 5 | $48,111 | $46,821 | $1,290 |
| Year 10 | $103,886 | $101,100 | $2,786 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bonnells Bay or Windermere Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bonnells Bay runs $9,062 a year by car and Windermere Park $8,819, but most of the $243 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $43. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bonnells Bay and Windermere Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Bonnells Bay (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Windermere Park (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Bonnells Bay and $1,377 in Windermere Park. 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 Bonnells Bay and Windermere Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,922 from Bonnells Bay and $3,879 from Windermere Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bonnells Bay and $2,400 from Windermere Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bonnells Bay and Windermere Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bonnells Bay costs a cumulative $103,886 and Windermere Park costs $101,100 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,786 in favour of Windermere Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bonnells Bay and Windermere Park suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.