Camellia vs Dundas, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Camellia and Dundas are both Parramatta rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 16.7 km and 17.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Dundas runs $379 a year cheaper than Camellia, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,345.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,300, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Dundas
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Camellia | Dundas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,617 | $4,738 | -$121 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,671 | $9,292 | +$379 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,440 | $6,940 | +$500 |
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 | Camellia | Dundas | 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, Camellia vs Dundas (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Camellia and Dundas differ by $379 a year by car, but $500 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 $121, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Camellia carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,440 from Camellia versus $6,940 from Dundas.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,156 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Camellia by $121 a year, $4,617 against $4,738.
- Building insurance favours Dundas by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 high in Camellia against medium in Dundas, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.8 in Dundas against 6.5 in Camellia, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Camellia cumulative | Dundas cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,671 | $9,292 | $379 |
| Year 3 | $29,892 | $28,721 | $1,171 |
| Year 5 | $51,345 | $49,332 | $2,013 |
| Year 10 | $110,867 | $106,522 | $4,345 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Camellia or Dundas cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Camellia runs $9,671 a year by car and Dundas $9,292, but most of the $379 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $121. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Camellia and Dundas?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in Camellia (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Dundas (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Camellia and $1,548 in Dundas. 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 Camellia and Dundas?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,617 from Camellia and $4,738 from Dundas to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Camellia and $2,386 from Dundas.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Camellia and Dundas?
At 3% annual cost growth, Camellia costs a cumulative $110,867 and Dundas costs $106,522 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,345 in favour of Dundas. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Camellia and Dundas suits you better?
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Sources: Parramatta rates (OLG and Parramatta 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.