Thornleigh vs Westleigh, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Thornleigh and Westleigh are both Hornsby rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.7 km and 21.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Thornleigh runs $637 a year cheaper than Westleigh, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,302.
Over 10 years, Thornleigh costs about $7,300 less to run than Westleigh. That's about $14 a week.
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Westleigh
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Thornleigh | Westleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,541 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,189 | $5,526 | -$337 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,400 | -$14 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,850 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,828 | $10,465 | -$637 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,025 | $7,339 | -$314 |
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 | Thornleigh | Westleigh | 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, Thornleigh vs Westleigh (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Thornleigh costs $637 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,302 in favour of Thornleigh.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $337 per year. Westleigh is 21.7 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $314 per year, $7,025 from Thornleigh versus $7,339 from Westleigh.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,541 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Thornleigh by $337 a year, $5,189 against $5,526.
- Building insurance favours Thornleigh by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Westleigh against medium in Thornleigh, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Thornleigh cumulative | Westleigh cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,828 | $10,465 | $637 |
| Year 3 | $30,377 | $32,346 | $1,969 |
| Year 5 | $52,178 | $55,560 | $3,382 |
| Year 10 | $112,667 | $119,969 | $7,302 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thornleigh or Westleigh cheaper to live in?
Thornleigh is cheaper to run by car at $9,828 per year versus $10,465 for Westleigh, a difference of $637 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Thornleigh and Westleigh?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Thornleigh (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,541 in Westleigh (Hornsby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Thornleigh and $1,548 in Westleigh. 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 Thornleigh and Westleigh?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,189 from Thornleigh and $5,526 from Westleigh to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Thornleigh and $2,400 from Westleigh.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Thornleigh and Westleigh?
At 3% annual cost growth, Thornleigh costs a cumulative $112,667 and Westleigh costs $119,969 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,302 in favour of Thornleigh. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Thornleigh and Westleigh suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Hornsby 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.