Bradbury vs St Helens Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bradbury and St Helens Park are both Campbelltown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 43.3 km and 44.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bradbury runs $543 a year cheaper than St Helens Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,224.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,200, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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St Helens Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bradbury | St Helens Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,497 | $1,497 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,941 | $6,884 | +$57 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $2,200 | -$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,586 | $12,129 | -$543 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,045 | $7,645 | -$600 |
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 | Bradbury | St Helens Park | 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, Bradbury vs St Helens Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bradbury and St Helens Park differ by $543 a year by car, but $600 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 $57, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $7,045 from Bradbury versus $7,645 from St Helens Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,497 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours St Helens Park by $57 a year, $6,884 against $6,941.
- Building insurance favours Bradbury by $600 a year, $1,600 against $2,200.
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 St Helens Park against low in Bradbury, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bradbury cumulative | St Helens Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,586 | $12,129 | $543 |
| Year 3 | $35,811 | $37,490 | $1,679 |
| Year 5 | $61,512 | $64,395 | $2,883 |
| Year 10 | $132,821 | $139,045 | $6,224 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bradbury or St Helens Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bradbury runs $11,586 a year by car and St Helens Park $12,129, but most of the $543 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $57. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bradbury and St Helens Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,497 in Bradbury (Campbelltown rates (OLG) and $1,497 in St Helens Park (Campbelltown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bradbury and $1,548 in St Helens Park. 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 Bradbury and St Helens Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,941 from Bradbury and $6,884 from St Helens Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bradbury and $2,400 from St Helens Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bradbury and St Helens Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bradbury costs a cumulative $132,821 and St Helens Park costs $139,045 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,224 in favour of Bradbury. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bradbury and St Helens Park suits you better?
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Sources: Campbelltown rates (OLG and Campbelltown 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.