Dural vs Glenhaven, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dural (Hornsby rates (OLG) and Glenhaven (The Hills rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (25.3 km and 27.1 km).
The two sit within $236 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 $2,700, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Glenhaven
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dural | Glenhaven | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,261 | +$280 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,045 | $6,261 | -$216 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,150 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,984 | $11,220 | -$236 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,339 | $7,359 | -$20 |
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 | Dural | Glenhaven | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,720 | -$378 |
| Unit | $1,909 | $2,209 | -$300 |
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, Dural vs Glenhaven (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dural and Glenhaven differ by $236 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 $64, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,339 and $7,359 a year, so the $236 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Glenhaven by $280 a year, $1,261 against $1,541.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Dural by $216 a year, $6,045 against $6,261.
- Building insurance favours Dural by $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated high in Dural against medium in Glenhaven, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dural cumulative | Glenhaven cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,984 | $11,220 | $236 |
| Year 3 | $33,950 | $34,680 | $730 |
| Year 5 | $58,316 | $59,569 | $1,253 |
| Year 10 | $125,919 | $128,625 | $2,706 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dural or Glenhaven cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Dural runs $10,984 a year by car and Glenhaven $11,220, but most of the $236 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $64. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Dural and Glenhaven?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Dural (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,261 in Glenhaven (The Hills rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Dural and $1,548 in Glenhaven. 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 Dural and Glenhaven?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,045 from Dural and $6,261 from Glenhaven to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Dural and $2,400 from Glenhaven.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Dural and Glenhaven?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dural costs a cumulative $125,919 and Glenhaven costs $128,625 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,706 in favour of Dural. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dural and Glenhaven suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and The Hills rates (OLG 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.