Busby vs Miller: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Busby and Miller are both Liverpool rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 30.6 km and 30.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Busby runs $474 a year cheaper than Miller, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,434.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Busby
Miller
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Busby | Miller | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,385 | $6,409 | -$24 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,300 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,159 | $11,633 | -$474 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,174 | $7,624 | -$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Busby | Miller | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,420 | $2,420 | - |
| Unit | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Busby vs Miller (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Busby costs $474 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,434 in favour of Busby.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Miller carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,174 from Busby versus $7,624 from Miller.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Busby cumulative | Miller cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,159 | $11,633 | $474 |
| Year 3 | $34,491 | $35,956 | $1,465 |
| Year 5 | $59,245 | $61,761 | $2,516 |
| Year 10 | $127,925 | $133,359 | $5,434 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Busby or Miller cheaper to live in?
Busby is cheaper to run by car at $11,159 per year versus $11,633 for Miller, a difference of $474 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Busby and Miller?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,376 in Busby (Liverpool rates (OLG) and $1,376 in Miller (Liverpool rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Busby and $1,548 in Miller. 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 Busby and Miller?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,385 from Busby and $6,409 from Miller to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Busby and $2,400 from Miller.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Busby and Miller?
At 3% annual cost growth, Busby costs a cumulative $127,925 and Miller costs $133,359 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,434 in favour of Busby. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Busby and Miller 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: Liverpool rates (OLG and Liverpool rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.