Forest Lodge vs Glebe, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Forest Lodge and Glebe are both Sydney rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3 km and 2.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $272 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 $3,100, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Glebe
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Forest Lodge | Glebe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $924 | $924 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,009 | $781 | +$228 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,350 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,331 | $5,603 | -$272 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,242 | $6,742 | -$500 |
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 | Forest Lodge | Glebe | 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, Forest Lodge vs Glebe (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Forest Lodge and Glebe differ by $272 a year by car, but $500 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 $228, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Glebe carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $6,242 from Forest Lodge versus $6,742 from Glebe.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $924 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Glebe by $228 a year, $781 against $1,009.
- Building insurance favours Forest Lodge by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 high in Glebe against medium in Forest Lodge, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Forest Lodge cumulative | Glebe cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,331 | $5,603 | $272 |
| Year 3 | $16,478 | $17,318 | $840 |
| Year 5 | $28,303 | $29,747 | $1,444 |
| Year 10 | $61,114 | $64,232 | $3,118 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Forest Lodge or Glebe cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Forest Lodge runs $5,331 a year by car and Glebe $5,603, but most of the $272 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $228. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Forest Lodge and Glebe?
Annual council rates for a house are $924 in Forest Lodge (Sydney rates (OLG) and $924 in Glebe (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Forest Lodge and $1,548 in Glebe. 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 Forest Lodge and Glebe?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,009 from Forest Lodge and $781 from Glebe to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Forest Lodge and $1,920 from Glebe.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Forest Lodge and Glebe?
At 3% annual cost growth, Forest Lodge costs a cumulative $61,114 and Glebe costs $64,232 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,118 in favour of Forest Lodge. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Forest Lodge and Glebe suits you better?
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Sources: Sydney rates (OLG and Sydney 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.