Asquith vs Waitara, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Asquith and Waitara are both Hornsby rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.8 km and 20.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Waitara runs $483 a year cheaper than Asquith, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,537.
Over 10 years, Waitara costs about $5,500 less to run than Asquith. That's about $11 a week.
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Waitara
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Asquith | Waitara | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,541 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,542 | $5,259 | +$283 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,350 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,181 | $9,698 | +$483 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,039 | $6,839 | +$200 |
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 | Asquith | Waitara | 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, Asquith vs Waitara (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Waitara costs $483 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,537 in favour of Waitara.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $283 per year. Asquith is 21.8 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,039 from Asquith versus $6,839 from Waitara.
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 Waitara by $283 a year, $5,259 against $5,542.
- Building insurance favours Waitara by $200 a year, $1,350 against $1,550.
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 medium in Asquith against low in Waitara, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.7 in Waitara against 8.6 in Asquith, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Asquith cumulative | Waitara cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,181 | $9,698 | $483 |
| Year 3 | $31,468 | $29,976 | $1,492 |
| Year 5 | $54,052 | $51,488 | $2,564 |
| Year 10 | $116,714 | $111,177 | $5,537 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Asquith or Waitara cheaper to live in?
Waitara is cheaper to run by car at $9,698 per year versus $10,181 for Asquith, a difference of $483 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Asquith and Waitara?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Asquith (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,541 in Waitara (Hornsby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Asquith and $1,548 in Waitara. 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 Asquith and Waitara?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,542 from Asquith and $5,259 from Waitara to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Asquith and $2,400 from Waitara.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Asquith and Waitara?
At 3% annual cost growth, Asquith costs a cumulative $116,714 and Waitara costs $111,177 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,537 in favour of Waitara. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Asquith and Waitara 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.