Busby vs Miller, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/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 $374 a year cheaper than Miller, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,287.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,300, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Miller
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Busby | Miller | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,603 | $6,627 | -$24 |
| 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) | $11,127 | $11,501 | -$374 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,924 | $7,274 | -$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 | Busby | Miller | 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, Busby vs Miller (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Busby and Miller differ by $374 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 $24, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Miller carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $6,924 from Busby versus $7,274 from Miller.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,376 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Busby by $24 a year, $6,603 against $6,627.
- Building insurance favours Busby 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 Miller against low in Busby, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Busby cumulative | Miller cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,127 | $11,501 | $374 |
| Year 3 | $34,392 | $35,548 | $1,156 |
| Year 5 | $59,075 | $61,060 | $1,985 |
| Year 10 | $127,559 | $131,846 | $4,287 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Busby or Miller cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Busby runs $11,127 a year by car and Miller $11,501, but most of the $374 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $24. 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 $6,603 from Busby and $6,627 from Miller to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/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 $127,559 and Miller costs $131,846 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,287 in favour of Busby. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Busby and Miller suits you better?
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Sources: Liverpool 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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.