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).
The two sit within $244 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 $2,800, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Millers Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balmain East | Millers Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,401 | $924 | +$477 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $681 | $514 | +$167 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,080 | $4,836 | +$244 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,319 | $6,242 | +$77 |
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 | 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
Balmain East and Millers Point differ by $244 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 $644, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $477 per year.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,319 and $6,242 a year, so the $244 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 favours Balmain East by $400 a year, $1,450 against $1,850.
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 | $5,080 | $4,836 | $244 |
| Year 3 | $15,702 | $14,948 | $754 |
| Year 5 | $26,970 | $25,675 | $1,295 |
| Year 10 | $58,237 | $55,439 | $2,798 |
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?
Neither is named cheaper. Balmain East runs $5,080 a year by car and Millers Point $4,836, but most of the $244 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $644. 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 $58,237 and Millers Point costs $55,439 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,798 in favour of Millers Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balmain East and Millers Point suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.