Miller vs Prestons, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Miller and Prestons are both Liverpool rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 30.9 km and 31.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Prestons runs $375 a year cheaper than Miller, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,299.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,300, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Prestons
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Miller | Prestons | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,627 | $6,702 | -$75 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,950 | $1,500 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,501 | $11,126 | +$375 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,274 | $6,824 | +$450 |
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 | Miller | Prestons | 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, Miller vs Prestons (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Miller and Prestons differ by $375 a year by car, but $450 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 $75, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Miller carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,274 from Miller versus $6,824 from Prestons.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,376 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Miller by $75 a year, $6,627 against $6,702.
- Building insurance favours Prestons by $450 a year, $1,500 against $1,950.
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 Miller against low in Prestons, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.3 in Prestons against 3 in Miller, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Miller cumulative | Prestons cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,501 | $11,126 | $375 |
| Year 3 | $35,548 | $34,389 | $1,159 |
| Year 5 | $61,060 | $59,069 | $1,991 |
| Year 10 | $131,846 | $127,547 | $4,299 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Miller or Prestons cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Miller runs $11,501 a year by car and Prestons $11,126, but most of the $375 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $75. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Miller and Prestons?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,376 in Miller (Liverpool rates (OLG) and $1,376 in Prestons (Liverpool rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Miller and $1,548 in Prestons. 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 Miller and Prestons?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,627 from Miller and $6,702 from Prestons to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Miller and $2,400 from Prestons.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Miller and Prestons?
At 3% annual cost growth, Miller costs a cumulative $131,846 and Prestons costs $127,547 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,299 in favour of Prestons. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Miller and Prestons suits you better?
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Sources: Liverpool rates (OLG and Liverpool 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.