Colebee vs Quakers Hill, 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 Quakers Hill are both Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for suburbs, sitting 35.7 km and 33.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Quakers Hill runs $692 a year cheaper than Colebee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,933.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,900, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Quakers Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Colebee | Quakers Hill | 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 | $6,816 | +$92 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $1,500 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,916 | $11,224 | +$692 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,408 | $6,808 | +$600 |
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 | Quakers Hill | 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 Quakers Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Colebee and Quakers Hill differ by $692 a year by car, but $600 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 $92, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Colebee carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $7,408 from Colebee versus $6,808 from Quakers Hill.
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 Quakers Hill by $92 a year, $6,816 against $6,908.
- Building insurance favours Quakers Hill by $600 a year, $1,500 against $2,100.
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 medium in Colebee against low in Quakers Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Colebee against low in Quakers Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.4 in Quakers Hill against 5.9 in Colebee, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Colebee cumulative | Quakers Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,916 | $11,224 | $692 |
| Year 3 | $36,831 | $34,692 | $2,139 |
| Year 5 | $63,264 | $59,590 | $3,674 |
| Year 10 | $136,604 | $128,671 | $7,933 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colebee or Quakers Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Colebee runs $11,916 a year by car and Quakers Hill $11,224, but most of the $692 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $92. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Colebee and Quakers Hill?
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 Quakers Hill (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Colebee and $1,548 in Quakers Hill. 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 Quakers Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,908 from Colebee and $6,816 from Quakers Hill to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Colebee and $2,400 from Quakers Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Colebee and Quakers Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Colebee costs a cumulative $136,604 and Quakers Hill costs $128,671 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,933 in favour of Quakers Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Colebee and Quakers Hill 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.