Burwood Heights vs Croydon Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Burwood Heights (Burwood rates (OLG) and Croydon Park (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (9.9 km and 10.1 km).
Burwood Heights runs $549 a year cheaper than Croydon Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,294.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,300, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Croydon Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Burwood Heights | Croydon Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,731 | $1,377 | +$354 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,031 | $3,084 | -$53 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $2,386 | -$466 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $2,350 | -$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,810 | $8,359 | -$549 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,699 | $7,661 | -$962 |
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 | Burwood Heights | Croydon Park | 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, Burwood Heights vs Croydon Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Burwood Heights and Croydon Park differ by $549 a year by car, but $850 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 $301, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $850 per year. Croydon Park carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $962 per year, $6,699 from Burwood Heights versus $7,661 from Croydon Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Croydon Park by $354 a year, $1,377 against $1,731.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Burwood Heights by $53 a year, $3,031 against $3,084.
- Building insurance favours Burwood Heights by $850 a year, $1,500 against $2,350.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Croydon Park against low in Burwood Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Burwood Heights cumulative | Croydon Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,810 | $8,359 | $549 |
| Year 3 | $24,140 | $25,837 | $1,697 |
| Year 5 | $41,464 | $44,379 | $2,915 |
| Year 10 | $89,533 | $95,827 | $6,294 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burwood Heights or Croydon Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Burwood Heights runs $7,810 a year by car and Croydon Park $8,359, but most of the $549 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $301. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Burwood Heights and Croydon Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,731 in Burwood Heights (Burwood rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Croydon Park (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Burwood Heights and $1,548 in Croydon Park. 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 Burwood Heights and Croydon Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,031 from Burwood Heights and $3,084 from Croydon Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Burwood Heights and $2,386 from Croydon Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Burwood Heights and Croydon Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Burwood Heights costs a cumulative $89,533 and Croydon Park costs $95,827 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,294 in favour of Burwood Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Burwood Heights and Croydon Park suits you better?
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Sources: Burwood rates (OLG and Canterbury-Bankstown 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.