St Marys 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
St Marys and Tregear are both Penrith rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 43.1 km and 41.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tregear runs $564 a year cheaper than St Marys, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,465.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,500, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tregear
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | St Marys | Tregear | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,604 | $1,604 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,947 | $6,983 | -$36 |
| 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) | $12,549 | $11,985 | +$564 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,002 | $7,402 | +$600 |
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 | St Marys | 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, St Marys vs Tregear (2026-27)
What the numbers show
St Marys and Tregear differ by $564 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 $36, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. St Marys carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $8,002 from St Marys versus $7,402 from Tregear.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,604 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours St Marys by $36 a year, $6,947 against $6,983.
- Building insurance favours Tregear by $600 a year, $1,850 against $2,450.
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 medium in St Marys against low in Tregear, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in St Marys against low in Tregear, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 2.8 in St Marys against 1.4 in Tregear, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | St Marys cumulative | Tregear cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,549 | $11,985 | $564 |
| Year 3 | $38,788 | $37,044 | $1,744 |
| Year 5 | $66,624 | $63,630 | $2,994 |
| Year 10 | $143,860 | $137,395 | $6,465 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Marys or Tregear cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. St Marys runs $12,549 a year by car and Tregear $11,985, but most of the $564 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $36. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in St Marys and Tregear?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,604 in St Marys (Penrith rates (OLG) and $1,604 in Tregear (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in St Marys 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 St Marys and Tregear?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,947 from St Marys and $6,983 from Tregear to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from St Marys and $2,400 from Tregear.
What is the 10-year cost difference between St Marys and Tregear?
At 3% annual cost growth, St Marys costs a cumulative $143,860 and Tregear costs $137,395 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,465 in favour of Tregear. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of St Marys and Tregear suits you better?
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Sources: Penrith rates (OLG 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.