Cattai vs Ebenezer, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cattai (The Hills rates (OLG) and Ebenezer (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (45.5 km and 49 km).
The two sit within $215 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 $2,500, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Ebenezer
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cattai | Ebenezer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,261 | $1,848 | -$587 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,857 | $6,635 | +$222 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,650 | $2,500 | +$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,316 | $12,531 | -$215 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,859 | $8,296 | -$437 |
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 | Cattai | Ebenezer | 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, Cattai vs Ebenezer (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cattai and Ebenezer differ by $215 a year by car, but $150 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 $365, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $587 per year.
On public transport the gap is $437 per year, $7,859 from Cattai versus $8,296 from Ebenezer.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Cattai by $587 a year, $1,261 against $1,848.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Ebenezer by $222 a year, $6,635 against $6,857.
- Building insurance favours Ebenezer by $150 a year, $2,500 against $2,650.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated high in Cattai against medium in Ebenezer, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cattai cumulative | Ebenezer cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,316 | $12,531 | $215 |
| Year 3 | $38,068 | $38,732 | $664 |
| Year 5 | $65,387 | $66,529 | $1,142 |
| Year 10 | $141,189 | $143,654 | $2,465 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cattai or Ebenezer cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cattai runs $12,316 a year by car and Ebenezer $12,531, but most of the $215 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $365. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cattai and Ebenezer?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,261 in Cattai (The Hills rates (OLG) and $1,848 in Ebenezer (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cattai and $1,548 in Ebenezer. 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 Cattai and Ebenezer?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,857 from Cattai and $6,635 from Ebenezer to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cattai and $2,400 from Ebenezer.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cattai and Ebenezer?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cattai costs a cumulative $141,189 and Ebenezer costs $143,654 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,465 in favour of Cattai. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cattai and Ebenezer suits you better?
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Sources: The Hills rates (OLG and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in 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.