Carnes Hill vs Edmondson Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Carnes Hill and Edmondson Park are both Liverpool rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 34 km and 34.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $126 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.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Sydney suburbs that fit your budget →Carnes Hill
Edmondson Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Carnes Hill | Edmondson Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,831 | $6,857 | -$26 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,700 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,355 | $11,481 | -$126 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,924 | $7,024 | -$100 |
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 | Carnes Hill | Edmondson Park | 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, Carnes Hill vs Edmondson Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Carnes Hill and Edmondson Park differ by $126 a year by car, but $100 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 $26, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $100 per year.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,924 and $7,024 a year, so the $126 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,376 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Carnes Hill by $26 a year, $6,831 against $6,857.
- Building insurance favours Carnes Hill by $100 a year, $1,600 against $1,700.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Edmondson Park against low in Carnes Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.9 in Edmondson Park against 5.6 in Carnes Hill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Carnes Hill cumulative | Edmondson Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,355 | $11,481 | $126 |
| Year 3 | $35,097 | $35,487 | $390 |
| Year 5 | $60,285 | $60,954 | $669 |
| Year 10 | $130,172 | $131,617 | $1,445 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carnes Hill or Edmondson Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Carnes Hill runs $11,355 a year by car and Edmondson Park $11,481, but most of the $126 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $26. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Carnes Hill and Edmondson Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,376 in Carnes Hill (Liverpool rates (OLG) and $1,376 in Edmondson Park (Liverpool rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Carnes Hill and $1,548 in Edmondson Park. 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 Carnes Hill and Edmondson Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,831 from Carnes Hill and $6,857 from Edmondson Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Carnes Hill and $2,400 from Edmondson Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Carnes Hill and Edmondson Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Carnes Hill costs a cumulative $130,172 and Edmondson Park costs $131,617 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,445 in favour of Carnes Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Carnes Hill and Edmondson Park suits you better?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Liverpool rates (OLG and Liverpool 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.