Allawah vs South Hurstville, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Allawah and South Hurstville are both Georges River rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 14.5 km and 15.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Allawah runs $546 a year cheaper than South Hurstville, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,260.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,300, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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South Hurstville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Allawah | South Hurstville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,447 | $1,447 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,149 | $4,345 | -$196 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,150 | $1,500 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,294 | $8,840 | -$546 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,531 | $6,881 | -$350 |
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 | Allawah | South Hurstville | 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, Allawah vs South Hurstville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Allawah and South Hurstville differ by $546 a year by car, but $350 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 $196, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $6,531 from Allawah versus $6,881 from South Hurstville.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,447 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Allawah by $196 a year, $4,149 against $4,345.
- Building insurance favours Allawah by $350 a year, $1,150 against $1,500.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Allawah cumulative | South Hurstville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,294 | $8,840 | $546 |
| Year 3 | $25,636 | $27,324 | $1,688 |
| Year 5 | $44,034 | $46,933 | $2,899 |
| Year 10 | $95,081 | $101,341 | $6,260 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Allawah or South Hurstville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Allawah runs $8,294 a year by car and South Hurstville $8,840, but most of the $546 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $196. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Allawah and South Hurstville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,447 in Allawah (Georges River rates (OLG) and $1,447 in South Hurstville (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Allawah and $1,548 in South Hurstville. 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 Allawah and South Hurstville?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,149 from Allawah and $4,345 from South Hurstville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Allawah and $2,386 from South Hurstville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Allawah and South Hurstville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Allawah costs a cumulative $95,081 and South Hurstville costs $101,341 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,260 in favour of Allawah. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Allawah and South Hurstville suits you better?
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Sources: Georges River rates (OLG and Georges River 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.