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.
Clemton Park runs $320 a year cheaper than Canterbury, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,669.
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 →Canterbury
Clemton Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Canterbury | Clemton Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,135 | $3,465 | -$330 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $2,300 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,010 | $8,690 | +$320 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,261 | $7,611 | +$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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
Clemton Park costs $320 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,669 in favour of Clemton Park.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Canterbury carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,261 from Canterbury versus $7,611 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 $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
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 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 | $9,010 | $8,690 | $320 |
| Year 3 | $27,849 | $26,860 | $989 |
| Year 5 | $47,835 | $46,136 | $1,699 |
| Year 10 | $103,290 | $99,621 | $3,669 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Canterbury or Clemton Park cheaper to live in?
Clemton Park is cheaper to run by car at $8,690 per year versus $9,010 for Canterbury, a difference of $320 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $103,290 and Clemton Park costs $99,621 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,669 in favour of Clemton Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Canterbury and Clemton Park 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.