Doonside vs Glendenning, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Doonside and Glendenning are both Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for suburbs, sitting 34.1 km and 34.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $260 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 $3,000, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Glendenning
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Doonside | Glendenning | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,360 | $1,360 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,836 | $6,876 | -$40 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $1,850 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,894 | $11,634 | +$260 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,458 | $7,158 | +$300 |
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 | Doonside | Glendenning | 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, Doonside vs Glendenning (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Doonside and Glendenning differ by $260 a year by car, but $300 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 $40, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,458 from Doonside versus $7,158 from Glendenning.
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 Doonside by $40 a year, $6,836 against $6,876.
- Building insurance favours Glendenning by $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
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 Doonside against low in Glendenning, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Doonside cumulative | Glendenning cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,894 | $11,634 | $260 |
| Year 3 | $36,763 | $35,960 | $803 |
| Year 5 | $63,147 | $61,766 | $1,381 |
| Year 10 | $136,351 | $133,371 | $2,980 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Doonside or Glendenning cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Doonside runs $11,894 a year by car and Glendenning $11,634, but most of the $260 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $40. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Doonside and Glendenning?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,360 in Doonside (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) and $1,360 in Glendenning (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Doonside and $1,548 in Glendenning. 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 Doonside and Glendenning?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,836 from Doonside and $6,876 from Glendenning to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Doonside and $2,400 from Glendenning.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Doonside and Glendenning?
At 3% annual cost growth, Doonside costs a cumulative $136,351 and Glendenning costs $133,371 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,980 in favour of Glendenning. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Doonside and Glendenning 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.