Bonnet Bay vs Como, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bonnet Bay and Como are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.3 km and 19.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Como runs $504 a year cheaper than Bonnet Bay, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,778.
Over 10 years, Como costs about $5,800 less to run than Bonnet Bay. That's about $11 a week.
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Como
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bonnet Bay | Como | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,461 | $5,207 | +$254 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,386 | +$14 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,100 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,976 | $10,472 | +$504 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,915 | $7,651 | +$264 |
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 | Bonnet Bay | Como | 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, Bonnet Bay vs Como (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Como costs $504 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,778 in favour of Como.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $254 per year. Bonnet Bay is 21.3 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $264 per year, $7,915 from Bonnet Bay versus $7,651 from Como.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,617 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Como by $254 a year, $5,207 against $5,461.
- Building insurance favours Como by $250 a year, $2,100 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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Bonnet Bay against low in Como, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bonnet Bay cumulative | Como cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,976 | $10,472 | $504 |
| Year 3 | $33,926 | $32,368 | $1,558 |
| Year 5 | $58,273 | $55,597 | $2,676 |
| Year 10 | $125,828 | $120,050 | $5,778 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bonnet Bay or Como cheaper to live in?
Como is cheaper to run by car at $10,472 per year versus $10,976 for Bonnet Bay, a difference of $504 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bonnet Bay and Como?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Bonnet Bay (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Como (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bonnet Bay and $1,548 in Como. 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 Bonnet Bay and Como?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,461 from Bonnet Bay and $5,207 from Como to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bonnet Bay and $2,386 from Como.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bonnet Bay and Como?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bonnet Bay costs a cumulative $125,828 and Como costs $120,050 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,778 in favour of Como. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bonnet Bay and Como suits you better?
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Sources: Sutherland rates (OLG and Sutherland 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.