Carlton vs Kogarah, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Carlton and Kogarah are both Georges River rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 14 km and 12.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $121 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 $1,400, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Kogarah
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Carlton | Kogarah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,447 | $1,447 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,036 | $3,757 | +$279 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,481 | $8,602 | -$121 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,831 | $7,231 | -$400 |
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 | Carlton | Kogarah | 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, Carlton vs Kogarah (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Carlton and Kogarah differ by $121 a year by car, but $400 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 $279, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Kogarah carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $6,831 from Carlton versus $7,231 from Kogarah.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,447 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kogarah by $279 a year, $3,757 against $4,036.
- Building insurance favours Carlton by $400 a year, $1,450 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 high in Kogarah against medium in Carlton, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.2 in Kogarah against 7 in Carlton, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Carlton cumulative | Kogarah cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,481 | $8,602 | $121 |
| Year 3 | $26,214 | $26,588 | $374 |
| Year 5 | $45,027 | $45,669 | $642 |
| Year 10 | $97,225 | $98,612 | $1,387 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carlton or Kogarah cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Carlton runs $8,481 a year by car and Kogarah $8,602, but most of the $121 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $279. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Carlton and Kogarah?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,447 in Carlton (Georges River rates (OLG) and $1,447 in Kogarah (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Carlton and $1,548 in Kogarah. 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 Carlton and Kogarah?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,036 from Carlton and $3,757 from Kogarah to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Carlton and $2,386 from Kogarah.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Carlton and Kogarah?
At 3% annual cost growth, Carlton costs a cumulative $97,225 and Kogarah costs $98,612 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,387 in favour of Carlton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Carlton and Kogarah suits you better?
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Sources: Georges River rates (OLG and Georges River 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.