Lugarno vs Oatley, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lugarno and Oatley are both Georges River rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.3 km and 18 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Oatley runs $492 a year cheaper than Lugarno, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,640.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,600, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Sydney suburbs that fit your budget →Lugarno
Oatley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lugarno | Oatley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,447 | $1,447 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,117 | $4,875 | +$242 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,600 | $2,350 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,712 | $10,220 | +$492 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,981 | $7,731 | +$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 | Lugarno | Oatley | 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, Lugarno vs Oatley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lugarno and Oatley differ by $492 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 $242, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Lugarno carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,981 from Lugarno versus $7,731 from Oatley.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,447 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Oatley by $242 a year, $4,875 against $5,117.
- Building insurance favours Oatley by $250 a year, $2,350 against $2,600.
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 Lugarno against low in Oatley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lugarno cumulative | Oatley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,712 | $10,220 | $492 |
| Year 3 | $33,110 | $31,589 | $1,521 |
| Year 5 | $56,871 | $54,259 | $2,612 |
| Year 10 | $122,801 | $117,161 | $5,640 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lugarno or Oatley cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Lugarno runs $10,712 a year by car and Oatley $10,220, but most of the $492 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $242. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lugarno and Oatley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,447 in Lugarno (Georges River rates (OLG) and $1,447 in Oatley (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Lugarno and $1,548 in Oatley. 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 Lugarno and Oatley?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,117 from Lugarno and $4,875 from Oatley to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Lugarno and $2,386 from Oatley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lugarno and Oatley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lugarno costs a cumulative $122,801 and Oatley costs $117,161 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,640 in favour of Oatley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lugarno and Oatley suits you better?
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.
Related comparisons
Sources: Georges River rates (OLG and Georges River 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.