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.
Forest Lodge runs $422 a year cheaper than Glebe, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,837.
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 →Forest Lodge
Glebe
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Forest Lodge | Glebe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $924 | $924 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,009 | $781 | +$228 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,950 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,781 | $6,203 | -$422 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,692 | $7,342 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $422 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,837 in favour of Forest Lodge.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Glebe carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $6,692 from Forest Lodge versus $7,342 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 $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
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 | $5,781 | $6,203 | $422 |
| Year 3 | $17,868 | $19,173 | $1,305 |
| Year 5 | $30,692 | $32,933 | $2,241 |
| Year 10 | $66,273 | $71,110 | $4,837 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Forest Lodge or Glebe cheaper to live in?
Forest Lodge is cheaper to run by car at $5,781 per year versus $6,203 for Glebe, a difference of $422 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $66,273 and Glebe costs $71,110 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,837 in favour of Forest Lodge. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Forest Lodge and Glebe 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.