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 $842 a year cheaper than Colebee, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,653.
Over 10 years, Quakers Hill costs about $9,700 less to run than Colebee — the same as paying $9,700 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Colebee
Quakers Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Colebee | Quakers Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,360 | $1,360 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,908 | $6,816 | +$92 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,600 | $1,850 | +$750 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,416 | $11,574 | +$842 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,908 | $7,158 | +$750 |
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 | 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
Quakers Hill costs $842 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,653 in favour of Quakers Hill.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $750 per year. Colebee carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $750 per year, $7,908 from Colebee versus $7,158 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 $750 a year, $1,850 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.
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 | $12,416 | $11,574 | $842 |
| Year 3 | $38,377 | $35,774 | $2,603 |
| Year 5 | $65,918 | $61,448 | $4,470 |
| Year 10 | $142,336 | $132,683 | $9,653 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colebee or Quakers Hill cheaper to live in?
Quakers Hill is cheaper to run by car at $11,574 per year versus $12,416 for Colebee, a difference of $842 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $142,336 and Quakers Hill costs $132,683 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,653 in favour of Quakers Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Colebee and Quakers Hill 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.