Lugarno vs Padstow Heights, 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 (Georges River rates (OLG) and Padstow Heights (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (19.3 km and 19.8 km).
Padstow Heights runs $330 a year cheaper than Lugarno, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,783.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,800, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Padstow Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lugarno | Padstow Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,447 | $1,377 | +$70 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,117 | $5,207 | -$90 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,600 | $2,250 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,712 | $10,382 | +$330 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,981 | $7,561 | +$420 |
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 | Padstow Heights | 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 Padstow Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lugarno and Padstow Heights differ by $330 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 $20, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Lugarno carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $420 per year, $7,981 from Lugarno versus $7,561 from Padstow Heights.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Padstow Heights by $70 a year, $1,377 against $1,447.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lugarno by $90 a year, $5,117 against $5,207.
- Building insurance favours Padstow Heights by $350 a year, $2,250 against $2,600.
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.
The catchment state school scores 8.5 in Lugarno against 7.3 in Padstow Heights, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lugarno cumulative | Padstow Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,712 | $10,382 | $330 |
| Year 3 | $33,110 | $32,090 | $1,020 |
| Year 5 | $56,871 | $55,119 | $1,752 |
| Year 10 | $122,801 | $119,018 | $3,783 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lugarno or Padstow Heights cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Lugarno runs $10,712 a year by car and Padstow Heights $10,382, but most of the $330 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $20. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lugarno and Padstow Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,447 in Lugarno (Georges River rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Padstow Heights (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Lugarno and $1,548 in Padstow Heights. 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 Padstow Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,117 from Lugarno and $5,207 from Padstow Heights to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Lugarno and $2,386 from Padstow Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lugarno and Padstow Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lugarno costs a cumulative $122,801 and Padstow Heights costs $119,018 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,783 in favour of Padstow Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lugarno and Padstow Heights suits you better?
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Sources: Georges River 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.