Silverwater vs Sunshine, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Silverwater and Sunshine are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 91.4 km and 90.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Sunshine runs $453 a year cheaper than Silverwater, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,194.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,200, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Sunshine
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Silverwater | Sunshine | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,993 | $3,940 | +$53 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,250 | $1,850 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,383 | $8,930 | +$453 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,790 | $7,390 | +$400 |
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 | Silverwater | Sunshine | 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, Silverwater vs Sunshine (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Silverwater and Sunshine differ by $453 a year by car, but $400 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 $53, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Silverwater carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,790 from Silverwater versus $7,390 from Sunshine.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Sunshine by $53 a year, $3,940 against $3,993.
- Building insurance favours Sunshine by $400 a year, $1,850 against $2,250.
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 Silverwater against medium in Sunshine, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Silverwater cumulative | Sunshine cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,383 | $8,930 | $453 |
| Year 3 | $29,002 | $27,602 | $1,400 |
| Year 5 | $49,816 | $47,411 | $2,405 |
| Year 10 | $107,566 | $102,372 | $5,194 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Silverwater or Sunshine cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Silverwater runs $9,383 a year by car and Sunshine $8,930, but most of the $453 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $53. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Silverwater and Sunshine?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Silverwater (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Sunshine (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Silverwater and $1,377 in Sunshine. 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 Silverwater and Sunshine?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,993 from Silverwater and $3,940 from Sunshine to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Silverwater and $2,400 from Sunshine.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Silverwater and Sunshine?
At 3% annual cost growth, Silverwater costs a cumulative $107,566 and Sunshine costs $102,372 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,194 in favour of Sunshine. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Silverwater and Sunshine suits you better?
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Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie 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.