Auburn vs South Granville, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Auburn and South Granville are both Cumberland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 17 km and 18.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Auburn runs $692 a year cheaper than South Granville, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,933.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,900, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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South Granville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Auburn | South Granville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,083 | $1,083 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,678 | $4,970 | -$292 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,759 | $9,451 | -$692 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,467 | $6,867 | -$400 |
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 | Auburn | South Granville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, Auburn vs South Granville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Auburn and South Granville differ by $692 a year by car, but $400 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 $292, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. South Granville carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $6,467 from Auburn versus $6,867 from South Granville.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,083 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Auburn by $292 a year, $4,678 against $4,970.
- Building insurance favours Auburn by $400 a year, $1,450 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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Auburn cumulative | South Granville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,759 | $9,451 | $692 |
| Year 3 | $27,073 | $29,212 | $2,139 |
| Year 5 | $46,503 | $50,177 | $3,674 |
| Year 10 | $100,412 | $108,345 | $7,933 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Auburn or South Granville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Auburn runs $8,759 a year by car and South Granville $9,451, but most of the $692 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $292. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Auburn and South Granville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,083 in Auburn (Cumberland rates (OLG) and $1,083 in South Granville (Cumberland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Auburn and $1,548 in South Granville. 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 Auburn and South Granville?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,678 from Auburn and $4,970 from South Granville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Auburn and $2,386 from South Granville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Auburn and South Granville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Auburn costs a cumulative $100,412 and South Granville costs $108,345 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,933 in favour of Auburn. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Auburn and South Granville suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Cumberland rates (OLG and Cumberland 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.