Palona vs Yenabilli, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Palona and Yenabilli are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 32.4 km and 28 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Palona runs $424 a year cheaper than Yenabilli, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,861.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,900, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Yenabilli
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Palona | Yenabilli | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,736 | $6,360 | +$376 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,650 | -$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,751 | $12,175 | -$424 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,415 | $8,215 | -$800 |
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 | Palona | Yenabilli | 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, Palona vs Yenabilli (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Palona and Yenabilli differ by $424 a year by car, but $800 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 $376, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Yenabilli carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $7,415 from Palona versus $8,215 from Yenabilli.
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 Yenabilli by $376 a year, $6,360 against $6,736.
- Building insurance favours Palona by $800 a year, $1,850 against $2,650.
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 high in Yenabilli against low in Palona, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.8 in Yenabilli against 6.8 in Palona, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Palona cumulative | Yenabilli cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,751 | $12,175 | $424 |
| Year 3 | $36,321 | $37,632 | $1,311 |
| Year 5 | $62,388 | $64,639 | $2,251 |
| Year 10 | $134,712 | $139,573 | $4,861 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Palona or Yenabilli cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Palona runs $11,751 a year by car and Yenabilli $12,175, but most of the $424 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $376. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Palona and Yenabilli?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Palona (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Yenabilli (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Palona and $1,548 in Yenabilli. 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 Palona and Yenabilli?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,736 from Palona and $6,360 from Yenabilli to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Palona and $2,400 from Yenabilli.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Palona and Yenabilli?
At 3% annual cost growth, Palona costs a cumulative $134,712 and Yenabilli costs $139,573 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,861 in favour of Palona. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Palona and Yenabilli suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.