Glen Alpine vs Menangle Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Glen Alpine and Menangle Park are both Campbelltown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 46.5 km and 48.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $112 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 $1,300, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Menangle Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Glen Alpine | Menangle Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,497 | $1,497 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,804 | $6,666 | +$138 |
| 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) | $11,449 | $11,561 | -$112 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,045 | $7,295 | -$250 |
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 | Glen Alpine | Menangle Park | 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, Glen Alpine vs Menangle Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Glen Alpine and Menangle Park differ by $112 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 $138, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,045 from Glen Alpine versus $7,295 from Menangle Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,497 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Menangle Park by $138 a year, $6,666 against $6,804.
- Building insurance favours Glen Alpine by $250 a year, $1,600 against $1,850.
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 Menangle Park against low in Glen Alpine, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Glen Alpine cumulative | Menangle Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,449 | $11,561 | $112 |
| Year 3 | $35,388 | $35,734 | $346 |
| Year 5 | $60,784 | $61,379 | $595 |
| Year 10 | $131,250 | $132,534 | $1,284 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Glen Alpine or Menangle Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Glen Alpine runs $11,449 a year by car and Menangle Park $11,561, but most of the $112 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $138. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Glen Alpine and Menangle Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,497 in Glen Alpine (Campbelltown rates (OLG) and $1,497 in Menangle Park (Campbelltown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Glen Alpine and $1,548 in Menangle Park. 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 Glen Alpine and Menangle Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,804 from Glen Alpine and $6,666 from Menangle Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Glen Alpine and $2,400 from Menangle Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Glen Alpine and Menangle Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Glen Alpine costs a cumulative $131,250 and Menangle Park costs $132,534 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,284 in favour of Glen Alpine. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Glen Alpine and Menangle Park suits you better?
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Sources: Campbelltown 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.