Bonnyrigg Heights vs Cecil Hills: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bonnyrigg Heights (Fairfield rates (OLG) and Cecil Hills (Liverpool rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (31.4 km and 33.6 km).
Bonnyrigg Heights runs $789 a year cheaper than Cecil Hills, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,045.
Over 10 years, Bonnyrigg Heights costs about $9,000 less to run than Cecil Hills — the same as paying $9,000 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 →Bonnyrigg Heights
Cecil Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bonnyrigg Heights | Cecil Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,030 | $1,376 | -$346 |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,666 | $6,809 | -$143 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,150 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,094 | $11,883 | -$789 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,828 | $7,474 | -$646 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bonnyrigg Heights | Cecil Hills | 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 — Bonnyrigg Heights vs Cecil Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bonnyrigg Heights costs $789 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,045 in favour of Bonnyrigg Heights.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $346 per year.
On public transport the gap is $646 per year, $6,828 from Bonnyrigg Heights versus $7,474 from Cecil Hills.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Bonnyrigg Heights by $346 a year, $1,030 against $1,376.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bonnyrigg Heights by $143 a year, $6,666 against $6,809.
- Building insurance favours Bonnyrigg Heights by $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated medium in Cecil Hills against low in Bonnyrigg Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bonnyrigg Heights cumulative | Cecil Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,094 | $11,883 | $789 |
| Year 3 | $34,290 | $36,729 | $2,439 |
| Year 5 | $58,900 | $63,088 | $4,188 |
| Year 10 | $127,180 | $136,225 | $9,045 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bonnyrigg Heights or Cecil Hills cheaper to live in?
Bonnyrigg Heights is cheaper to run by car at $11,094 per year versus $11,883 for Cecil Hills, a difference of $789 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bonnyrigg Heights and Cecil Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Bonnyrigg Heights (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,376 in Cecil Hills (Liverpool rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bonnyrigg Heights and $1,548 in Cecil Hills. 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 Bonnyrigg Heights and Cecil Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,666 from Bonnyrigg Heights and $6,809 from Cecil Hills to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bonnyrigg Heights and $2,400 from Cecil Hills.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bonnyrigg Heights and Cecil Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bonnyrigg Heights costs a cumulative $127,180 and Cecil Hills costs $136,225 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,045 in favour of Bonnyrigg Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bonnyrigg Heights and Cecil Hills 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: Fairfield rates (OLG and Liverpool rates (OLG 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.