Cambridge Gardens vs Penrith, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cambridge Gardens and Penrith are both Penrith rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 47.3 km and 49.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $154 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 $1,800, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Penrith
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cambridge Gardens | Penrith | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,604 | $1,604 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,756 | $6,560 | +$196 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,850 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,408 | $11,562 | -$154 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,052 | $7,402 | -$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 | Cambridge Gardens | Penrith | 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, Cambridge Gardens vs Penrith (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cambridge Gardens and Penrith differ by $154 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 $196, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Penrith carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,052 from Cambridge Gardens versus $7,402 from Penrith.
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 Penrith by $196 a year, $6,560 against $6,756.
- Building insurance favours Cambridge Gardens 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 Penrith against low in Cambridge Gardens, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.1 in Cambridge Gardens against 1.3 in Penrith, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cambridge Gardens cumulative | Penrith cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,408 | $11,562 | $154 |
| Year 3 | $35,261 | $35,737 | $476 |
| Year 5 | $60,567 | $61,384 | $817 |
| Year 10 | $130,780 | $132,545 | $1,765 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cambridge Gardens or Penrith cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cambridge Gardens runs $11,408 a year by car and Penrith $11,562, but most of the $154 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $196. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cambridge Gardens and Penrith?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,604 in Cambridge Gardens (Penrith rates (OLG) and $1,604 in Penrith (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cambridge Gardens and $1,548 in Penrith. 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 Cambridge Gardens and Penrith?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,756 from Cambridge Gardens and $6,560 from Penrith to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cambridge Gardens and $2,400 from Penrith.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cambridge Gardens and Penrith?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cambridge Gardens costs a cumulative $130,780 and Penrith costs $132,545 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,765 in favour of Cambridge Gardens. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cambridge Gardens and Penrith 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.