Cameron Park vs Glendale, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cameron Park and Glendale are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 15.8 km and 13.4 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Glendale runs $333 a year cheaper than Cameron Park, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,817.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,800, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Glendale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cameron Park | Glendale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,431 | $3,898 | +$533 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,050 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,421 | $9,088 | +$333 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,390 | $7,590 | -$200 |
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 | Cameron Park | Glendale | 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, Cameron Park vs Glendale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cameron Park and Glendale differ by $333 a year by car, but $200 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 $533, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $533 per year. Cameron Park is 15.8 km from Newcastle CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,390 from Cameron Park versus $7,590 from Glendale.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Glendale by $533 a year, $3,898 against $4,431.
- Building insurance favours Cameron Park by $200 a year, $1,850 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 Glendale against medium in Cameron Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Cameron Park against medium in Glendale, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cameron Park cumulative | Glendale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,421 | $9,088 | $333 |
| Year 3 | $29,119 | $28,090 | $1,029 |
| Year 5 | $50,017 | $48,249 | $1,768 |
| Year 10 | $108,001 | $104,184 | $3,817 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cameron Park or Glendale cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cameron Park runs $9,421 a year by car and Glendale $9,088, but most of the $333 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $533. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cameron Park and Glendale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Cameron Park (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Glendale (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Cameron Park and $1,377 in Glendale. 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 Cameron Park and Glendale?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,431 from Cameron Park and $3,898 from Glendale to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cameron Park and $2,400 from Glendale.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cameron Park and Glendale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cameron Park costs a cumulative $108,001 and Glendale costs $104,184 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,817 in favour of Glendale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cameron Park and Glendale suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.