Glenworth Valley vs Wendoree 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
Glenworth Valley and Wendoree Park are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 50.1 km and 46.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Glenworth Valley runs $677 a year cheaper than Wendoree Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,761.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,800, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wendoree Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Glenworth Valley | Wendoree Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,544 | $6,821 | -$277 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,250 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,148 | $11,825 | -$677 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,004 | $7,404 | -$400 |
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 | Glenworth Valley | Wendoree Park | 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, Glenworth Valley vs Wendoree Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Glenworth Valley and Wendoree Park differ by $677 a year by car, but $400 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 $277, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Wendoree Park carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,004 from Glenworth Valley versus $7,404 from Wendoree Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,454 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Glenworth Valley by $277 a year, $6,544 against $6,821.
- Building insurance favours Glenworth Valley by $400 a year, $1,850 against $2,250.
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 Wendoree Park against medium in Glenworth Valley, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.6 in Wendoree Park against 6.2 in Glenworth Valley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Glenworth Valley cumulative | Wendoree Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,148 | $11,825 | $677 |
| Year 3 | $34,457 | $36,550 | $2,093 |
| Year 5 | $59,186 | $62,781 | $3,595 |
| Year 10 | $127,799 | $135,560 | $7,761 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Glenworth Valley or Wendoree Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Glenworth Valley runs $11,148 a year by car and Wendoree Park $11,825, but most of the $677 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $277. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Glenworth Valley and Wendoree Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Glenworth Valley (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Wendoree Park (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Glenworth Valley and $1,300 in Wendoree 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 Glenworth Valley and Wendoree Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,544 from Glenworth Valley and $6,821 from Wendoree Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Glenworth Valley and $2,400 from Wendoree Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Glenworth Valley and Wendoree Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Glenworth Valley costs a cumulative $127,799 and Wendoree Park costs $135,560 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,761 in favour of Glenworth Valley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Glenworth Valley and Wendoree Park suits you better?
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Sources: Central Coast rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.