Essington vs Twenty Forests: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Essington and Twenty Forests are both Oberon rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 139.9 km and 138.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Essington runs $400 a year cheaper than Twenty Forests, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Essington
Twenty Forests
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Essington | Twenty Forests | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,007 | $1,007 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $2,400 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $21,907 | $22,307 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,707 | $7,107 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Essington | Twenty Forests | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,554 | $2,554 | - |
| Unit | $2,020 | $2,020 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Essington vs Twenty Forests (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Essington costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Essington.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $6,707 from Essington versus $7,107 from Twenty Forests.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Essington cumulative | Twenty Forests cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $21,907 | $22,307 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $67,712 | $68,949 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $116,307 | $118,431 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $251,139 | $255,725 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Essington or Twenty Forests cheaper to live in?
Essington is cheaper to run by car at $21,907 per year versus $22,307 for Twenty Forests, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Essington and Twenty Forests?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,007 in Essington (Oberon rates (OLG) and $1,007 in Twenty Forests (Oberon rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Essington and $1,300 in Twenty Forests. 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 Essington and Twenty Forests?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Essington and $17,600 from Twenty Forests to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Essington and $2,400 from Twenty Forests.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Essington and Twenty Forests?
At 3% annual cost growth, Essington costs a cumulative $251,139 and Twenty Forests costs $255,725 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Essington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Essington and Twenty Forests 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: Oberon rates (OLG and Oberon rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.