Gledswood Hills vs Varroville, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Gledswood Hills (Camden rates (OLG) and Varroville (Campbelltown rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (42.7 km and 39.9 km).
The two sit within $205 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 $2,400, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Varroville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gledswood Hills | Varroville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,573 | $1,497 | +$76 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,957 | $6,988 | -$31 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,850 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,678 | $11,883 | -$205 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,121 | $7,295 | -$174 |
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 | Gledswood Hills | Varroville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, Gledswood Hills vs Varroville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Gledswood Hills and Varroville differ by $205 a year by car, but $250 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 $45, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,121 and $7,295 a year, so the $205 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Varroville by $76 a year, $1,497 against $1,573.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Gledswood Hills by $31 a year, $6,957 against $6,988.
- Building insurance favours Gledswood Hills by $250 a year, $1,600 against $1,850.
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 medium in Varroville against low in Gledswood Hills, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7 in Gledswood Hills against 5.7 in Varroville, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gledswood Hills cumulative | Varroville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,678 | $11,883 | $205 |
| Year 3 | $36,096 | $36,729 | $633 |
| Year 5 | $62,000 | $63,088 | $1,088 |
| Year 10 | $133,875 | $136,225 | $2,350 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gledswood Hills or Varroville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Gledswood Hills runs $11,678 a year by car and Varroville $11,883, but most of the $205 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $45. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gledswood Hills and Varroville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,573 in Gledswood Hills (Camden rates (OLG) and $1,497 in Varroville (Campbelltown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Gledswood Hills and $1,548 in Varroville. 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 Gledswood Hills and Varroville?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,957 from Gledswood Hills and $6,988 from Varroville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Gledswood Hills and $2,400 from Varroville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Gledswood Hills and Varroville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gledswood Hills costs a cumulative $133,875 and Varroville costs $136,225 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,350 in favour of Gledswood Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gledswood Hills and Varroville suits you better?
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Sources: Camden rates (OLG and Campbelltown 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.