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 $799 a year cheaper than Croydon Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,160.
Over 10 years, Burwood Heights costs about $9,200 less to run than Croydon Park — the same as paying $9,200 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Burwood Heights
Croydon Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Burwood Heights | Croydon Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,731 | $1,377 | +$354 |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,031 | $3,084 | -$53 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $2,386 | -$466 |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,950 | -$1,100 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,160 | $8,959 | -$799 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,049 | $8,261 | -$1,212 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $799 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,160 in favour of Burwood Heights.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year. Croydon Park carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,212 per year, $7,049 from Burwood Heights versus $8,261 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 $1,100 a year, $1,850 against $2,950.
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 | $8,160 | $8,959 | $799 |
| Year 3 | $25,222 | $27,691 | $2,469 |
| Year 5 | $43,323 | $47,565 | $4,242 |
| Year 10 | $93,545 | $102,705 | $9,160 |
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?
Burwood Heights is cheaper to run by car at $8,160 per year versus $8,959 for Croydon Park, a difference of $799 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $93,545 and Croydon Park costs $102,705 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,160 in favour of Burwood Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Burwood Heights and Croydon Park 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.