Ropes Crossing vs Tregear, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ropes Crossing (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) and Tregear (Penrith rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (42.6 km and 41.1 km).
Tregear runs $332 a year cheaper than Ropes Crossing, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,806.
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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Tregear
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ropes Crossing | Tregear | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,360 | $1,604 | -$244 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,959 | $6,983 | -$24 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,450 | $1,850 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,317 | $11,985 | +$332 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,758 | $7,402 | +$356 |
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 | Ropes Crossing | Tregear | 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, Ropes Crossing vs Tregear (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ropes Crossing and Tregear differ by $332 a year by car, but $600 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 $268, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year.
On public transport the gap is $356 per year, $7,758 from Ropes Crossing versus $7,402 from Tregear.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Ropes Crossing by $244 a year, $1,360 against $1,604.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Ropes Crossing by $24 a year, $6,959 against $6,983.
- Building insurance favours Tregear by $600 a year, $1,850 against $2,450.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Ropes Crossing against low in Tregear, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.5 in Ropes Crossing against 1.4 in Tregear, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ropes Crossing cumulative | Tregear cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,317 | $11,985 | $332 |
| Year 3 | $38,071 | $37,044 | $1,027 |
| Year 5 | $65,393 | $63,630 | $1,763 |
| Year 10 | $141,201 | $137,395 | $3,806 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ropes Crossing or Tregear cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ropes Crossing runs $12,317 a year by car and Tregear $11,985, but most of the $332 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $268. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ropes Crossing and Tregear?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,360 in Ropes Crossing (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) and $1,604 in Tregear (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Ropes Crossing and $1,548 in Tregear. 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 Ropes Crossing and Tregear?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,959 from Ropes Crossing and $6,983 from Tregear to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Ropes Crossing and $2,400 from Tregear.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ropes Crossing and Tregear?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ropes Crossing costs a cumulative $141,201 and Tregear costs $137,395 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,806 in favour of Tregear. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ropes Crossing and Tregear suits you better?
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Sources: Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for and Penrith 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.