Caddens vs Orchard Hills, 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 Orchard Hills are both Penrith rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 45.8 km and 45.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Caddens runs $634 a year cheaper than Orchard Hills, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,268.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,300, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Orchard Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Caddens | Orchard Hills | 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 | $6,876 | -$34 |
| 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 | $12,128 | -$634 |
| 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 | Orchard Hills | 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 Orchard Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Caddens and Orchard Hills differ by $634 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 $34, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Orchard Hills 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 Orchard Hills.
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 $34 a year, $6,842 against $6,876.
- 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 Orchard Hills against low in Caddens, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Orchard Hills against low in Caddens, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.2 in Caddens against 5.9 in Orchard Hills, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Caddens cumulative | Orchard Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,494 | $12,128 | $634 |
| Year 3 | $35,527 | $37,486 | $1,959 |
| Year 5 | $61,023 | $64,389 | $3,366 |
| Year 10 | $131,766 | $139,034 | $7,268 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Caddens or Orchard Hills cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Caddens runs $11,494 a year by car and Orchard Hills $12,128, but most of the $634 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $34. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Caddens and Orchard Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,604 in Caddens (Penrith rates (OLG) and $1,604 in Orchard Hills (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Caddens and $1,548 in Orchard Hills. 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 Orchard Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,842 from Caddens and $6,876 from Orchard Hills to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Caddens and $2,400 from Orchard Hills.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Caddens and Orchard Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Caddens costs a cumulative $131,766 and Orchard Hills costs $139,034 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,268 in favour of Caddens. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Caddens and Orchard Hills 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.