Lucas Heights vs Yarrawarrah: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lucas Heights and Yarrawarrah are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 28.6 km and 26.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Yarrawarrah runs $616 a year cheaper than Lucas Heights, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,062.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Lucas Heights
Yarrawarrah
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lucas Heights | Yarrawarrah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,421 | $6,205 | +$216 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,550 | $2,150 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,136 | $11,520 | +$616 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,115 | $7,715 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Lucas Heights | Yarrawarrah | 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 — Lucas Heights vs Yarrawarrah (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Yarrawarrah costs $616 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,062 in favour of Yarrawarrah.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,115 from Lucas Heights versus $7,715 from Yarrawarrah.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,617 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Yarrawarrah by $216 a year, $6,205 against $6,421.
- Building insurance favours Yarrawarrah by $400 a year, $2,150 against $2,550.
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 high in Lucas Heights against medium in Yarrawarrah, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lucas Heights cumulative | Yarrawarrah cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,136 | $11,520 | $616 |
| Year 3 | $37,511 | $35,607 | $1,904 |
| Year 5 | $64,432 | $61,161 | $3,271 |
| Year 10 | $139,126 | $132,064 | $7,062 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lucas Heights or Yarrawarrah cheaper to live in?
Yarrawarrah is cheaper to run by car at $11,520 per year versus $12,136 for Lucas Heights, a difference of $616 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lucas Heights and Yarrawarrah?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Lucas Heights (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Yarrawarrah (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Lucas Heights and $1,548 in Yarrawarrah. 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 Lucas Heights and Yarrawarrah?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,421 from Lucas Heights and $6,205 from Yarrawarrah to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Lucas Heights and $2,400 from Yarrawarrah.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lucas Heights and Yarrawarrah?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lucas Heights costs a cumulative $139,126 and Yarrawarrah costs $132,064 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,062 in favour of Yarrawarrah. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lucas Heights and Yarrawarrah is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
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Sources: Sutherland rates (OLG and Sutherland rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.