Barker vs Catherine Field, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Barker and Catherine Field are both Camden rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 46.2 km and 43.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $135 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 $1,500, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Catherine Field
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Barker | Catherine Field | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,573 | $1,573 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,821 | $6,936 | -$115 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,600 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,792 | $11,657 | +$135 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,371 | $7,121 | +$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 | Barker | Catherine Field | 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, Barker vs Catherine Field (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Barker and Catherine Field differ by $135 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 $115, 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, $7,371 from Barker versus $7,121 from Catherine Field.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,573 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Barker by $115 a year, $6,821 against $6,936.
- Building insurance favours Catherine Field 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 Barker against low in Catherine Field, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.7 in Catherine Field against 4.2 in Barker, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Barker cumulative | Catherine Field cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,792 | $11,657 | $135 |
| Year 3 | $36,448 | $36,031 | $417 |
| Year 5 | $62,605 | $61,889 | $716 |
| Year 10 | $135,182 | $133,634 | $1,548 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Barker or Catherine Field cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Barker runs $11,792 a year by car and Catherine Field $11,657, but most of the $135 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $115. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Barker and Catherine Field?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,573 in Barker (Camden rates (OLG) and $1,573 in Catherine Field (Camden rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Barker and $1,548 in Catherine Field. 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 Barker and Catherine Field?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,821 from Barker and $6,936 from Catherine Field to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Barker and $2,400 from Catherine Field.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Barker and Catherine Field?
At 3% annual cost growth, Barker costs a cumulative $135,182 and Catherine Field costs $133,634 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,548 in favour of Catherine Field. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Barker and Catherine Field suits you better?
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Sources: Camden rates (OLG and Camden 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.