Balmain East vs Millers Point: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Balmain East (Inner West rates (OLG) and Millers Point (Sydney rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (2 km and 1.1 km).
Millers Point runs $644 a year cheaper than Balmain East, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,383.
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 →Balmain East
Millers Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balmain East | Millers Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,401 | $924 | +$477 |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $681 | $514 | +$167 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,930 | $5,286 | +$644 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,169 | $6,692 | +$477 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Balmain East | Millers Point | 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 — Balmain East vs Millers Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Millers Point costs $644 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,383 in favour of Millers Point.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $477 per year.
On public transport the gap is $477 per year, $7,169 from Balmain East versus $6,692 from Millers Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Millers Point by $477 a year, $924 against $1,401.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Millers Point by $167 a year, $514 against $681.
- Building insurance is identical at $2,300 a year.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
The catchment state school scores 9.8 in Balmain East against 8.4 in Millers Point, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balmain East cumulative | Millers Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,930 | $5,286 | $644 |
| Year 3 | $18,329 | $16,338 | $1,991 |
| Year 5 | $31,483 | $28,064 | $3,419 |
| Year 10 | $67,981 | $60,598 | $7,383 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balmain East or Millers Point cheaper to live in?
Millers Point is cheaper to run by car at $5,286 per year versus $5,930 for Balmain East, a difference of $644 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balmain East and Millers Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Balmain East (Inner West rates (OLG) and $924 in Millers Point (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Balmain East and $1,548 in Millers Point. 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 Balmain East and Millers Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $681 from Balmain East and $514 from Millers Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Balmain East and $1,920 from Millers Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balmain East and Millers Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balmain East costs a cumulative $67,981 and Millers Point costs $60,598 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,383 in favour of Millers Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balmain East and Millers Point 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: Inner West rates (OLG and Sydney 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.