Bonnie Vale vs Port Hacking, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bonnie Vale and Port Hacking are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 24.8 km and 23.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Port Hacking runs $994 a year cheaper than Bonnie Vale, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,395.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,400, about $22 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Port Hacking
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bonnie Vale | Port Hacking | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,979 | $5,785 | +$194 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,650 | $1,850 | +$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,794 | $10,800 | +$994 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,215 | $7,415 | +$800 |
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 | Bonnie Vale | Port Hacking | 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, Bonnie Vale vs Port Hacking (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bonnie Vale and Port Hacking differ by $994 a year by car, but $800 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 $194, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Bonnie Vale carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $8,215 from Bonnie Vale versus $7,415 from Port Hacking.
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 Port Hacking by $194 a year, $5,785 against $5,979.
- Building insurance favours Port Hacking by $800 a year, $1,850 against $2,650.
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 high in Bonnie Vale against low in Port Hacking, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.8 in Port Hacking against 7.7 in Bonnie Vale, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bonnie Vale cumulative | Port Hacking cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,794 | $10,800 | $994 |
| Year 3 | $36,454 | $33,382 | $3,072 |
| Year 5 | $62,616 | $57,339 | $5,277 |
| Year 10 | $135,205 | $123,810 | $11,395 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bonnie Vale or Port Hacking cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bonnie Vale runs $11,794 a year by car and Port Hacking $10,800, but most of the $994 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $194. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bonnie Vale and Port Hacking?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Bonnie Vale (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Port Hacking (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bonnie Vale and $1,548 in Port Hacking. 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 Bonnie Vale and Port Hacking?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,979 from Bonnie Vale and $5,785 from Port Hacking to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bonnie Vale and $2,400 from Port Hacking.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bonnie Vale and Port Hacking?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bonnie Vale costs a cumulative $135,205 and Port Hacking costs $123,810 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,395 in favour of Port Hacking. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bonnie Vale and Port Hacking 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.