Burwood vs Burwood Heights, 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 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.
The two sit within $271 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 $3,100, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Burwood Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Burwood | Burwood Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,731 | $1,731 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,952 | $3,031 | -$79 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,081 | $7,810 | +$271 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,049 | $6,699 | +$350 |
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 | Burwood Heights | 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 vs Burwood Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Burwood and Burwood Heights differ by $271 a year by car, but $350 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 $79, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Burwood carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,049 from Burwood versus $6,699 from Burwood Heights.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,731 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Burwood by $79 a year, $2,952 against $3,031.
- Building insurance favours Burwood Heights by $350 a year, $1,500 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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Burwood against low in Burwood Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Burwood cumulative | Burwood Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,081 | $7,810 | $271 |
| Year 3 | $24,978 | $24,140 | $838 |
| Year 5 | $42,903 | $41,464 | $1,439 |
| Year 10 | $92,640 | $89,533 | $3,107 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burwood or Burwood Heights cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Burwood runs $8,081 a year by car and Burwood Heights $7,810, but most of the $271 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $79. 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 $2,952 from Burwood and $3,031 from Burwood Heights to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/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 $92,640 and Burwood Heights costs $89,533 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,107 in favour of Burwood Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Burwood and Burwood Heights suits you better?
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Sources: Burwood rates (OLG and Burwood 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.