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.
Dean Park runs $328 a year cheaper than Colebee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,761.
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 →Colebee
Dean Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Colebee | Dean Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,360 | $1,360 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,908 | $6,880 | +$28 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,600 | $2,300 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,416 | $12,088 | +$328 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,908 | $7,608 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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
Dean Park costs $328 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,761 in favour of Dean Park.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Colebee carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,908 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 Dean Park by $300 a year, $2,300 against $2,600.
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 | $12,416 | $12,088 | $328 |
| Year 3 | $38,377 | $37,363 | $1,014 |
| Year 5 | $65,918 | $64,177 | $1,741 |
| Year 10 | $142,336 | $138,575 | $3,761 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colebee or Dean Park cheaper to live in?
Dean Park is cheaper to run by car at $12,088 per year versus $12,416 for Colebee, a difference of $328 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $142,336 and Dean Park costs $138,575 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,761 in favour of Dean Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Colebee and Dean 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.