Colebee vs Dean 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
Colebee and Dean Park are both Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for suburbs, sitting 35.7 km and 35 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $172 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 $2,000, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Dean Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Colebee | Dean Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,360 | $1,360 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,908 | $6,880 | +$28 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $2,300 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,916 | $12,088 | -$172 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,408 | $7,608 | -$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 | Colebee | Dean Park | 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, Colebee vs Dean Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Colebee and Dean Park differ by $172 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 $28, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Dean Park carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,408 from Colebee versus $7,608 from Dean Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,360 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Dean Park by $28 a year, $6,880 against $6,908.
- Building insurance favours Colebee by $200 a year, $2,100 against $2,300.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Colebee against low in Dean Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Colebee cumulative | Dean Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,916 | $12,088 | $172 |
| Year 3 | $36,831 | $37,363 | $532 |
| Year 5 | $63,264 | $64,177 | $913 |
| Year 10 | $136,604 | $138,575 | $1,971 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colebee or Dean Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Colebee runs $11,916 a year by car and Dean Park $12,088, but most of the $172 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $28. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Colebee and Dean Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,360 in Colebee (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) and $1,360 in Dean Park (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Colebee and $1,548 in Dean 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 Colebee and Dean Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,908 from Colebee and $6,880 from Dean Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Colebee and $2,400 from Dean Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Colebee and Dean Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Colebee costs a cumulative $136,604 and Dean Park costs $138,575 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,971 in favour of Colebee. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Colebee and Dean Park suits you better?
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Sources: Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for and Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for 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.