Burwood vs Canada Bay, 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 (Burwood rates (OLG) and Canada Bay (Canada Bay rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (9.6 km and 8.7 km).
Canada Bay runs $706 a year cheaper than Burwood, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,094.
Over 10 years, Canada Bay costs about $8,100 less to run than Burwood. That's about $16 a week.
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Canada Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Burwood | Canada Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,731 | $1,268 | +$463 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,952 | $2,709 | +$243 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,081 | $7,375 | +$706 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,049 | $6,586 | +$463 |
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 | Canada Bay | 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 Canada Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Canada Bay costs $706 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,094 in favour of Canada Bay.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $463 per year.
On public transport the gap is $463 per year, $7,049 from Burwood versus $6,586 from Canada Bay.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Canada Bay by $463 a year, $1,268 against $1,731.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Canada Bay by $243 a year, $2,709 against $2,952.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,850 a year.
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 Canada Bay against medium in Burwood, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Burwood cumulative | Canada Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,081 | $7,375 | $706 |
| Year 3 | $24,978 | $22,795 | $2,183 |
| Year 5 | $42,903 | $39,155 | $3,748 |
| Year 10 | $92,640 | $84,546 | $8,094 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burwood or Canada Bay cheaper to live in?
Canada Bay is cheaper to run by car at $7,375 per year versus $8,081 for Burwood, a difference of $706 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Burwood and Canada Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,731 in Burwood (Burwood rates (OLG) and $1,268 in Canada Bay (Canada Bay rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Burwood and $1,548 in Canada Bay. 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 Canada Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,952 from Burwood and $2,709 from Canada Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Burwood and $1,920 from Canada Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Burwood and Canada Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Burwood costs a cumulative $92,640 and Canada Bay costs $84,546 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,094 in favour of Canada Bay. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Burwood and Canada Bay suits you better?
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Sources: Burwood rates (OLG and Canada Bay 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.