Alfords Point vs Padstow Heights, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Alfords Point (Sutherland rates (OLG) and Padstow Heights (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (21.1 km and 19.8 km).
Padstow Heights runs $562 a year cheaper than Alfords Point, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,443.
Over 10 years, Padstow Heights costs about $6,400 less to run than Alfords Point. That's about $12 a week.
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Padstow Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Alfords Point | Padstow Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,377 | +$240 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,429 | $5,207 | +$222 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,386 | +$14 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,250 | +$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,944 | $10,382 | +$562 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,915 | $7,561 | +$354 |
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 | Alfords Point | Padstow Heights | 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, Alfords Point vs Padstow Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Padstow Heights costs $562 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,443 in favour of Padstow Heights.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $240 per year.
On public transport the gap is $354 per year, $7,915 from Alfords Point versus $7,561 from Padstow Heights.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Padstow Heights by $240 a year, $1,377 against $1,617.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Padstow Heights by $222 a year, $5,207 against $5,429.
- Building insurance favours Padstow Heights by $100 a year, $2,250 against $2,350.
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 | Alfords Point cumulative | Padstow Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,944 | $10,382 | $562 |
| Year 3 | $33,827 | $32,090 | $1,737 |
| Year 5 | $58,103 | $55,119 | $2,984 |
| Year 10 | $125,461 | $119,018 | $6,443 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alfords Point or Padstow Heights cheaper to live in?
Padstow Heights is cheaper to run by car at $10,382 per year versus $10,944 for Alfords Point, a difference of $562 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Alfords Point and Padstow Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Alfords Point (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Padstow Heights (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Alfords Point and $1,548 in Padstow Heights. 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 Alfords Point and Padstow Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,429 from Alfords Point and $5,207 from Padstow Heights to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Alfords Point and $2,386 from Padstow Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Alfords Point and Padstow Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Alfords Point costs a cumulative $125,461 and Padstow Heights costs $119,018 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,443 in favour of Padstow Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Alfords Point and Padstow Heights suits you better?
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Sources: Sutherland rates (OLG and Canterbury-Bankstown 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.