Carlingford vs West Pennant Hills, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Carlingford (Parramatta rates (OLG) and West Pennant Hills (The Hills rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (17.9 km and 21.1 km).
Carlingford runs $1,329 a year cheaper than West Pennant Hills, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $15,236.
Over 10 years, Carlingford costs about $15,200 less to run than West Pennant Hills. That's about $29 a week.
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West Pennant Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Carlingford | West Pennant Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,261 | -$105 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,855 | $5,429 | -$574 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,400 | -$14 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $2,150 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,059 | $10,388 | -$1,329 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,590 | $7,359 | -$769 |
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 | Carlingford | West Pennant Hills | 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, Carlingford vs West Pennant Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Carlingford costs $1,329 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $15,236 in favour of Carlingford.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year.
On public transport the gap is $769 per year, $6,590 from Carlingford versus $7,359 from West Pennant Hills.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Carlingford by $105 a year, $1,156 against $1,261.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Carlingford by $574 a year, $4,855 against $5,429.
- Building insurance favours Carlingford by $650 a year, $1,500 against $2,150.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated medium in West Pennant Hills against low in Carlingford, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Carlingford cumulative | West Pennant Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,059 | $10,388 | $1,329 |
| Year 3 | $28,000 | $32,108 | $4,108 |
| Year 5 | $48,095 | $55,151 | $7,056 |
| Year 10 | $103,851 | $119,087 | $15,236 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carlingford or West Pennant Hills cheaper to live in?
Carlingford is cheaper to run by car at $9,059 per year versus $10,388 for West Pennant Hills, a difference of $1,329 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Carlingford and West Pennant Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in Carlingford (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,261 in West Pennant Hills (The Hills rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Carlingford and $1,548 in West Pennant Hills. 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 Carlingford and West Pennant Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,855 from Carlingford and $5,429 from West Pennant Hills to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Carlingford and $2,400 from West Pennant Hills.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Carlingford and West Pennant Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Carlingford costs a cumulative $103,851 and West Pennant Hills costs $119,087 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $15,236 in favour of Carlingford. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Carlingford and West Pennant Hills suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Parramatta rates (OLG and The Hills 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.