Caddens vs Claremont Meadows, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Caddens and Claremont Meadows are both Penrith rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 45.8 km and 43 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Caddens runs $707 a year cheaper than Claremont Meadows, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,105.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,100, about $16 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Claremont Meadows
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Caddens | Claremont Meadows | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,604 | $1,604 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,842 | $6,949 | -$107 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $2,100 | -$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,494 | $12,201 | -$707 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,052 | $7,652 | -$600 |
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 | Caddens | Claremont Meadows | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, Caddens vs Claremont Meadows (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Caddens and Claremont Meadows differ by $707 a year by car, but $600 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 $107, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Claremont Meadows carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $7,052 from Caddens versus $7,652 from Claremont Meadows.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,604 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Caddens by $107 a year, $6,842 against $6,949.
- Building insurance favours Caddens by $600 a year, $1,500 against $2,100.
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 Claremont Meadows against low in Caddens, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Claremont Meadows against low in Caddens, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Caddens cumulative | Claremont Meadows cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,494 | $12,201 | $707 |
| Year 3 | $35,527 | $37,712 | $2,185 |
| Year 5 | $61,023 | $64,777 | $3,754 |
| Year 10 | $131,766 | $139,871 | $8,105 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Caddens or Claremont Meadows cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Caddens runs $11,494 a year by car and Claremont Meadows $12,201, but most of the $707 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $107. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Caddens and Claremont Meadows?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,604 in Caddens (Penrith rates (OLG) and $1,604 in Claremont Meadows (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Caddens and $1,548 in Claremont Meadows. 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 Caddens and Claremont Meadows?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,842 from Caddens and $6,949 from Claremont Meadows to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Caddens and $2,400 from Claremont Meadows.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Caddens and Claremont Meadows?
At 3% annual cost growth, Caddens costs a cumulative $131,766 and Claremont Meadows costs $139,871 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,105 in favour of Caddens. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Caddens and Claremont Meadows suits you better?
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Sources: Penrith rates (OLG and Penrith 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.