Canterbury vs Clemton 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
Canterbury and Clemton Park are both Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 10.3 km and 11.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $170 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $1,900, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Clemton Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Canterbury | Clemton Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,135 | $3,465 | -$330 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,410 | $8,240 | +$170 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,661 | $7,161 | +$500 |
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 | Canterbury | Clemton Park | 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, Canterbury vs Clemton Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Canterbury and Clemton Park differ by $170 a year by car, but $500 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 $330, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Canterbury carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,661 from Canterbury versus $7,161 from Clemton Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Canterbury by $330 a year, $3,135 against $3,465.
- Building insurance favours Clemton Park by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 Canterbury against medium in Clemton Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Canterbury cumulative | Clemton Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,410 | $8,240 | $170 |
| Year 3 | $25,994 | $25,469 | $525 |
| Year 5 | $44,650 | $43,747 | $903 |
| Year 10 | $96,411 | $94,462 | $1,949 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Canterbury or Clemton Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Canterbury runs $8,410 a year by car and Clemton Park $8,240, but most of the $170 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $330. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Canterbury and Clemton Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,377 in Canterbury (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Clemton Park (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Canterbury and $1,548 in Clemton 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 Canterbury and Clemton Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,135 from Canterbury and $3,465 from Clemton Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Canterbury and $2,386 from Clemton Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Canterbury and Clemton Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Canterbury costs a cumulative $96,411 and Clemton Park costs $94,462 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,949 in favour of Clemton Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Canterbury and Clemton Park suits you better?
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Sources: Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG and Canterbury-Bankstown 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.