Phillip Bay vs Port Botany, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Phillip Bay and Port Botany are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 12.6 km and 11.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Port Botany runs $569 a year cheaper than Phillip Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,523.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,500, about $13 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 →Phillip Bay
Port Botany
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Phillip Bay | Port Botany | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,709 | $3,440 | +$269 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,050 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,600 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $9,330 | $8,761 | +$569 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,007 | $7,707 | +$300 |
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 | Phillip Bay | Port Botany | 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, Phillip Bay vs Port Botany (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Phillip Bay and Port Botany differ by $569 a year by car, but $300 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 $269, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Phillip Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,007 from Phillip Bay versus $7,707 from Port Botany.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,723 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Port Botany by $269 a year, $3,440 against $3,709.
- Building insurance favours Port Botany by $300 a year, $2,050 against $2,350.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Phillip Bay cumulative | Port Botany cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,330 | $8,761 | $569 |
| Year 3 | $28,838 | $27,079 | $1,759 |
| Year 5 | $49,534 | $46,513 | $3,021 |
| Year 10 | $106,958 | $100,435 | $6,523 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phillip Bay or Port Botany cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Phillip Bay runs $9,330 a year by car and Port Botany $8,761, but most of the $569 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $269. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Phillip Bay and Port Botany?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Phillip Bay (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in Port Botany (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Phillip Bay and $1,548 in Port Botany. 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 Phillip Bay and Port Botany?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,709 from Phillip Bay and $3,440 from Port Botany to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Phillip Bay and $2,386 from Port Botany.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Phillip Bay and Port Botany?
At 3% annual cost growth, Phillip Bay costs a cumulative $106,958 and Port Botany costs $100,435 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,523 in favour of Port Botany. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Phillip Bay and Port Botany 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: Randwick rates (OLG and Randwick 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.