Seven Hills vs Toongabbie, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Seven Hills (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) and Toongabbie (Parramatta rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (26.9 km and 25.5 km).
Toongabbie runs $724 a year cheaper than Seven Hills, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,300.
Over 10 years, Toongabbie costs about $8,300 less to run than Seven Hills. That's about $16 a week.
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Toongabbie
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Seven Hills | Toongabbie | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,360 | $1,156 | +$204 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,240 | $6,070 | +$170 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,998 | $10,274 | +$724 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,158 | $6,604 | +$554 |
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 | Seven Hills | Toongabbie | 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, Seven Hills vs Toongabbie (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Toongabbie costs $724 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,300 in favour of Toongabbie.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $554 per year, $7,158 from Seven Hills versus $6,604 from Toongabbie.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Toongabbie by $204 a year, $1,156 against $1,360.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Toongabbie by $170 a year, $6,070 against $6,240.
- Building insurance favours Toongabbie by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Seven Hills cumulative | Toongabbie cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,998 | $10,274 | $724 |
| Year 3 | $33,994 | $31,756 | $2,238 |
| Year 5 | $58,390 | $54,546 | $3,844 |
| Year 10 | $126,080 | $117,780 | $8,300 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Seven Hills or Toongabbie cheaper to live in?
Toongabbie is cheaper to run by car at $10,274 per year versus $10,998 for Seven Hills, a difference of $724 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Seven Hills and Toongabbie?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,360 in Seven Hills (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) and $1,156 in Toongabbie (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Seven Hills and $1,548 in Toongabbie. 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 Seven Hills and Toongabbie?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,240 from Seven Hills and $6,070 from Toongabbie to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Seven Hills and $2,400 from Toongabbie.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Seven Hills and Toongabbie?
At 3% annual cost growth, Seven Hills costs a cumulative $126,080 and Toongabbie costs $117,780 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,300 in favour of Toongabbie. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Seven Hills and Toongabbie suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for and Parramatta 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.