Bonnyrigg vs Mount Pritchard, 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 and Mount Pritchard are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 29.4 km and 28.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $263 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 $3,000, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mount Pritchard
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bonnyrigg | Mount Pritchard | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,498 | $6,411 | +$87 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,950 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,676 | $10,939 | -$263 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,578 | $6,928 | -$350 |
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 | Bonnyrigg | Mount Pritchard | 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 vs Mount Pritchard (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bonnyrigg and Mount Pritchard differ by $263 a year by car, but $350 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 $87, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Mount Pritchard carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $6,578 from Bonnyrigg versus $6,928 from Mount Pritchard.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,030 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Mount Pritchard by $87 a year, $6,411 against $6,498.
- Building insurance favours Bonnyrigg by $350 a year, $1,600 against $1,950.
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 medium in Mount Pritchard against low in Bonnyrigg, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bonnyrigg cumulative | Mount Pritchard cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,676 | $10,939 | $263 |
| Year 3 | $32,998 | $33,811 | $813 |
| Year 5 | $56,680 | $58,077 | $1,397 |
| Year 10 | $122,388 | $125,403 | $3,015 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bonnyrigg or Mount Pritchard cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bonnyrigg runs $10,676 a year by car and Mount Pritchard $10,939, but most of the $263 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $87. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bonnyrigg and Mount Pritchard?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Bonnyrigg (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in Mount Pritchard (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bonnyrigg and $1,548 in Mount Pritchard. 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 and Mount Pritchard?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,498 from Bonnyrigg and $6,411 from Mount Pritchard to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bonnyrigg and $2,400 from Mount Pritchard.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bonnyrigg and Mount Pritchard?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bonnyrigg costs a cumulative $122,388 and Mount Pritchard costs $125,403 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,015 in favour of Bonnyrigg. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bonnyrigg and Mount Pritchard suits you better?
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Sources: Fairfield rates (OLG and Fairfield 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.