Burwood vs Burwood Heights: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Burwood and Burwood Heights are both Burwood rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 9.6 km and 9.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Burwood Heights runs $374 a year cheaper than Burwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,287.
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 →Burwood
Burwood Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Burwood | Burwood Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,731 | $1,731 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $2,855 | $2,931 | -$76 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,434 | $8,060 | +$374 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,499 | $7,049 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Burwood | Burwood Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,148 | $2,148 | - |
| Unit | $1,716 | $1,716 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; 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 vs Burwood Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Burwood Heights costs $374 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,287 in favour of Burwood Heights.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Burwood carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,499 from Burwood versus $7,049 from Burwood Heights.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Burwood cumulative | Burwood Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,434 | $8,060 | $374 |
| Year 3 | $26,069 | $24,913 | $1,156 |
| Year 5 | $44,777 | $42,792 | $1,985 |
| Year 10 | $96,686 | $92,399 | $4,287 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burwood or Burwood Heights cheaper to live in?
Burwood Heights is cheaper to run by car at $8,060 per year versus $8,434 for Burwood, a difference of $374 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Burwood and Burwood Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,731 in Burwood (Burwood rates (OLG) and $1,731 in Burwood Heights (Burwood rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Burwood and $1,548 in Burwood Heights. 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 and Burwood Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,855 from Burwood and $2,931 from Burwood Heights to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Burwood and $1,920 from Burwood Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Burwood and Burwood Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Burwood costs a cumulative $96,686 and Burwood Heights costs $92,399 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,287 in favour of Burwood Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Burwood and Burwood Heights 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 Burwood rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.