Pennant Hills vs Thornleigh, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Pennant Hills and Thornleigh are both Hornsby rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 18.5 km and 19.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Thornleigh runs $431 a year cheaper than Pennant Hills, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,941.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,900, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Thornleigh
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Pennant Hills | Thornleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,541 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,970 | $5,189 | -$219 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,200 | $1,550 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,259 | $9,828 | +$431 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,675 | $7,025 | +$650 |
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 | Pennant Hills | Thornleigh | 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, Pennant Hills vs Thornleigh (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Pennant Hills and Thornleigh differ by $431 a year by car, but $650 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 $219, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,675 from Pennant Hills versus $7,025 from Thornleigh.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,541 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Pennant Hills by $219 a year, $4,970 against $5,189.
- Building insurance favours Thornleigh by $650 a year, $1,550 against $2,200.
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 Pennant Hills against medium in Thornleigh, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Pennant Hills cumulative | Thornleigh cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,259 | $9,828 | $431 |
| Year 3 | $31,710 | $30,377 | $1,333 |
| Year 5 | $54,466 | $52,178 | $2,288 |
| Year 10 | $117,608 | $112,667 | $4,941 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pennant Hills or Thornleigh cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Pennant Hills runs $10,259 a year by car and Thornleigh $9,828, but most of the $431 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $219. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Pennant Hills and Thornleigh?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Pennant Hills (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,541 in Thornleigh (Hornsby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Pennant Hills and $1,548 in Thornleigh. 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 Pennant Hills and Thornleigh?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,970 from Pennant Hills and $5,189 from Thornleigh to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Pennant Hills and $2,386 from Thornleigh.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Pennant Hills and Thornleigh?
At 3% annual cost growth, Pennant Hills costs a cumulative $117,608 and Thornleigh costs $112,667 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,941 in favour of Thornleigh. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Pennant Hills and Thornleigh suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Hornsby 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.