East Hills vs Picnic Point, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
East Hills and Picnic Point are both Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 22.7 km and 21.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $77 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 these two cost about the same to run.
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Picnic Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | East Hills | Picnic Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,681 | $5,558 | +$123 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $2,250 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,656 | $10,733 | -$77 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,375 | $7,575 | -$200 |
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 | East Hills | Picnic Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, East Hills vs Picnic Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
East Hills and Picnic Point cost within $77 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $883, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Picnic Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,375 from East Hills versus $7,575 from Picnic Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Picnic Point by $123 a year, $5,558 against $5,681.
- Building insurance favours East Hills by $200 a year, $2,050 against $2,250.
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 Picnic Point against low in East Hills, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.5 in Picnic Point against 5.7 in East Hills, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | East Hills cumulative | Picnic Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,656 | $10,733 | $77 |
| Year 3 | $32,937 | $33,175 | $238 |
| Year 5 | $56,574 | $56,983 | $409 |
| Year 10 | $122,159 | $123,042 | $883 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is East Hills or Picnic Point cheaper to live in?
East Hills is cheaper to run by car at $10,656 per year versus $10,733 for Picnic Point, a difference of $77 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in East Hills and Picnic Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,377 in East Hills (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Picnic Point (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in East Hills and $1,548 in Picnic Point. 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 East Hills and Picnic Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,681 from East Hills and $5,558 from Picnic Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from East Hills and $2,400 from Picnic Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between East Hills and Picnic Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, East Hills costs a cumulative $122,159 and Picnic Point costs $123,042 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $883 in favour of East Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of East Hills and Picnic Point suits you better?
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Sources: Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG and Canterbury-Bankstown 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.