Cheero Point vs Milsons Passage, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cheero Point (Central Coast rates (OLG) and Milsons Passage (Hornsby rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (39.8 km and 39.8 km).
Cheero Point runs $835 a year cheaper than Milsons Passage, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,573.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,600, about $18 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Milsons Passage
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cheero Point | Milsons Passage | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,454 | $1,541 | -$87 |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,548 | -$248 |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,988 | $6,988 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,350 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,592 | $12,427 | -$835 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,004 | $7,839 | -$835 |
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 | Cheero Point | Milsons Passage | 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, Cheero Point vs Milsons Passage (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cheero Point and Milsons Passage differ by $835 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 $335, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Milsons Passage carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $835 per year, $7,004 from Cheero Point versus $7,839 from Milsons Passage.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Cheero Point by $87 a year, $1,454 against $1,541.
- Water and sewerage favours Cheero Point by $248 a year, $1,300 against $1,548.
- Driving commute is identical at $6,988 a year.
- Building insurance favours Cheero Point by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Milsons Passage against medium in Cheero Point, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Cheero Point against medium in Milsons Passage, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cheero Point cumulative | Milsons Passage cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,592 | $12,427 | $835 |
| Year 3 | $35,830 | $38,411 | $2,581 |
| Year 5 | $61,544 | $65,977 | $4,433 |
| Year 10 | $132,889 | $142,462 | $9,573 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cheero Point or Milsons Passage cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cheero Point runs $11,592 a year by car and Milsons Passage $12,427, but most of the $835 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $335. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cheero Point and Milsons Passage?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Cheero Point (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,541 in Milsons Passage (Hornsby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Cheero Point and $1,548 in Milsons Passage. 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 Cheero Point and Milsons Passage?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,988 from Cheero Point and $6,988 from Milsons Passage to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cheero Point and $2,400 from Milsons Passage.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cheero Point and Milsons Passage?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cheero Point costs a cumulative $132,889 and Milsons Passage costs $142,462 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,573 in favour of Cheero Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cheero Point and Milsons Passage suits you better?
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Sources: Central Coast rates (OLG and Hornsby 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.