Lakemba vs Wiley 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
Lakemba and Wiley Park are both Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 13.5 km and 14.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $122 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 $1,400, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wiley Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lakemba | Wiley Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,921 | $4,149 | -$228 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,696 | $8,574 | +$122 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,161 | $6,811 | +$350 |
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 | Lakemba | Wiley 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, Lakemba vs Wiley Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lakemba and Wiley Park differ by $122 a year by car, but $350 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 $350 per year. Lakemba carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,161 from Lakemba versus $6,811 from Wiley Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lakemba by $228 a year, $3,921 against $4,149.
- Building insurance favours Wiley Park by $350 a year, $1,500 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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Lakemba against low in Wiley Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lakemba cumulative | Wiley Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,696 | $8,574 | $122 |
| Year 3 | $26,878 | $26,501 | $377 |
| Year 5 | $46,168 | $45,521 | $647 |
| Year 10 | $99,690 | $98,291 | $1,399 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lakemba or Wiley Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Lakemba runs $8,696 a year by car and Wiley Park $8,574, but most of the $122 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 Lakemba and Wiley Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,377 in Lakemba (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Wiley Park (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Lakemba and $1,548 in Wiley 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 Lakemba and Wiley Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,921 from Lakemba and $4,149 from Wiley Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Lakemba and $2,386 from Wiley Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lakemba and Wiley Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lakemba costs a cumulative $99,690 and Wiley Park costs $98,291 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,399 in favour of Wiley Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lakemba and Wiley Park suits you better?
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Sources: Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG and Canterbury-Bankstown 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.