Lapstone vs Leonay, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lapstone (Blue Mountains rates (OLG) and Leonay (Penrith rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (54 km and 53.4 km).
Leonay runs $330 a year cheaper than Lapstone, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,783.
Over 10 years, Leonay costs about $3,800 less to run than Lapstone. That's about $7 a week.
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Leonay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lapstone | Leonay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,157 | $1,604 | +$553 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,132 | $6,205 | -$73 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,950 | $2,100 | -$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,787 | $11,457 | +$330 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,055 | $7,652 | +$403 |
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 | Lapstone | Leonay | 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, Lapstone vs Leonay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Leonay costs $330 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,783 in favour of Leonay.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $553 per year.
On public transport the gap is $403 per year, $8,055 from Lapstone versus $7,652 from Leonay.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Leonay by $553 a year, $1,604 against $2,157.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lapstone by $73 a year, $6,132 against $6,205.
- Building insurance favours Lapstone by $150 a year, $1,950 against $2,100.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Leonay against low in Lapstone, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Lapstone against medium in Leonay, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.8 in Lapstone against 7.2 in Leonay, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lapstone cumulative | Leonay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,787 | $11,457 | $330 |
| Year 3 | $36,432 | $35,412 | $1,020 |
| Year 5 | $62,579 | $60,827 | $1,752 |
| Year 10 | $135,125 | $131,342 | $3,783 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lapstone or Leonay cheaper to live in?
Leonay is cheaper to run by car at $11,457 per year versus $11,787 for Lapstone, a difference of $330 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lapstone and Leonay?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,157 in Lapstone (Blue Mountains rates (OLG) and $1,604 in Leonay (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Lapstone and $1,548 in Leonay. 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 Lapstone and Leonay?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,132 from Lapstone and $6,205 from Leonay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Lapstone and $2,400 from Leonay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lapstone and Leonay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lapstone costs a cumulative $135,125 and Leonay costs $131,342 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,783 in favour of Leonay. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lapstone and Leonay suits you better?
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Sources: Blue Mountains rates (OLG and Penrith 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.