Botany vs Pagewood, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Botany and Pagewood are both Bayside rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 8.8 km and 7.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Pagewood runs $755 a year cheaper than Botany, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,655.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,700, about $17 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Pagewood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Botany | Pagewood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,265 | $1,265 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,737 | $2,432 | +$305 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $1,600 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,600 | $6,845 | +$755 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,783 | $6,333 | +$450 |
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 | Botany | Pagewood | 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, Botany vs Pagewood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Botany and Pagewood differ by $755 a year by car, but $450 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 $305, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Botany carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $6,783 from Botany versus $6,333 from Pagewood.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,265 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Pagewood by $305 a year, $2,432 against $2,737.
- Building insurance favours Pagewood by $450 a year, $1,600 against $2,050.
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 high in Botany against medium in Pagewood, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Botany cumulative | Pagewood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,600 | $6,845 | $755 |
| Year 3 | $23,491 | $21,157 | $2,334 |
| Year 5 | $40,349 | $36,341 | $4,008 |
| Year 10 | $87,125 | $78,470 | $8,655 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Botany or Pagewood cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Botany runs $7,600 a year by car and Pagewood $6,845, but most of the $755 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $305. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Botany and Pagewood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,265 in Botany (Bayside rates (OLG) and $1,265 in Pagewood (Bayside rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Botany and $1,548 in Pagewood. 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 Botany and Pagewood?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,737 from Botany and $2,432 from Pagewood to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Botany and $1,920 from Pagewood.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Botany and Pagewood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Botany costs a cumulative $87,125 and Pagewood costs $78,470 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,655 in favour of Pagewood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Botany and Pagewood suits you better?
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Sources: Bayside rates (OLG and Bayside 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.