True annual cost of living in Forest Glen, NSW 2157
Living in a house in Forest Glen costs about $12,627 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Forest Glen sits 39.8 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $12,767, with the $2,100 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 39.8km, the commute dominates running costs. Drivers pay $4,588 more per year than public transport users.
Cheaper to run than 31% of Hornsby suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,615/yr
6,060 kWh
Unit
$2,113/yr
4,545 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Forest Glen's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for its electricity network. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Getting around Forest Glen
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
No scheduled service within a 2 km walk of the suburb centre.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
0
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-08-07. Distances are straight line from that centre, so a specific address can be closer or further. Mapping is contributed and can lag a new opening.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Forest Glen to the CBD?
Public transport saves Forest Glen residents $4,588 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $6,988 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Forest Glen?
Forest Glen falls under Hornsby Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,541 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,541 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Forest Glen?
Running a unit in Forest Glen costs approximately $12,767 per year by car or $8,179 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,541, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,100, and contents insurance of $590. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Forest Glen close to public transport?
No scheduled public transport stop was found within a 2 km walk of the centre of Forest Glen. The running cost on this page assumes driving, which is why the commute component is the largest line for most suburbs in this position.
What shops and parks are in Forest Glen?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Forest Glen there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 0 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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Data sources: Council rates: Hornsby rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Sydney Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.