Austral vs Rossmore: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Austral and Rossmore are both Liverpool rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 38.3 km and 40.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Austral runs $312 a year cheaper than Rossmore, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,576.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Austral
Rossmore
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Austral | Rossmore | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,976 | $6,988 | -$12 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,150 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,750 | $12,062 | -$312 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,174 | $7,474 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Austral | Rossmore | 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 — Austral vs Rossmore (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Austral costs $312 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,576 in favour of Austral.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,174 from Austral versus $7,474 from Rossmore.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,376 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Austral by $12 a year, $6,976 against $6,988.
- Building insurance favours Austral by $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
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 Rossmore against low in Austral, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.8 in Austral against 4.4 in Rossmore, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Austral cumulative | Rossmore cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,750 | $12,062 | $312 |
| Year 3 | $36,318 | $37,282 | $964 |
| Year 5 | $62,382 | $64,039 | $1,657 |
| Year 10 | $134,701 | $138,277 | $3,576 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Austral or Rossmore cheaper to live in?
Austral is cheaper to run by car at $11,750 per year versus $12,062 for Rossmore, a difference of $312 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Austral and Rossmore?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,376 in Austral (Liverpool rates (OLG) and $1,376 in Rossmore (Liverpool rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Austral and $1,548 in Rossmore. 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 Austral and Rossmore?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,976 from Austral and $6,988 from Rossmore to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Austral and $2,400 from Rossmore.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Austral and Rossmore?
At 3% annual cost growth, Austral costs a cumulative $134,701 and Rossmore costs $138,277 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,576 in favour of Austral. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Austral and Rossmore is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Liverpool rates (OLG and Liverpool rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.