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.
The two sit within $262 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,000, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rossmore
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Austral | Rossmore | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,976 | $6,988 | -$12 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,850 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,500 | $11,762 | -$262 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,924 | $7,174 | -$250 |
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 | 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 and Rossmore differ by $262 a year by car, but $250 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 $12, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $6,924 from Austral versus $7,174 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 $250 a year, $1,600 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.
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 | $11,500 | $11,762 | $262 |
| Year 3 | $35,545 | $36,355 | $810 |
| Year 5 | $61,055 | $62,446 | $1,391 |
| Year 10 | $131,835 | $134,838 | $3,003 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Austral or Rossmore cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Austral runs $11,500 a year by car and Rossmore $11,762, but most of the $262 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $12. 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 $131,835 and Rossmore costs $134,838 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,003 in favour of Austral. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Austral and Rossmore suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.