Cattai vs South Maroota, 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 and South Maroota are both The Hills rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 45.5 km and 44.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
South Maroota runs $752 a year cheaper than Cattai, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,621.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,600, about $17 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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South Maroota
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cattai | South Maroota | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,261 | $1,261 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,857 | $6,905 | -$48 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,650 | $1,850 | +$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,316 | $11,564 | +$752 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,859 | $7,059 | +$800 |
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 | South Maroota | 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 South Maroota (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cattai and South Maroota differ by $752 a year by car, but $800 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 $48, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Cattai carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $7,859 from Cattai versus $7,059 from South Maroota.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,261 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cattai by $48 a year, $6,857 against $6,905.
- Building insurance favours South Maroota by $800 a year, $1,850 against $2,650.
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 Cattai against low in South Maroota, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cattai cumulative | South Maroota cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,316 | $11,564 | $752 |
| Year 3 | $38,068 | $35,743 | $2,325 |
| Year 5 | $65,387 | $61,395 | $3,992 |
| Year 10 | $141,189 | $132,568 | $8,621 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cattai or South Maroota cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cattai runs $12,316 a year by car and South Maroota $11,564, but most of the $752 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $48. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cattai and South Maroota?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,261 in Cattai (The Hills rates (OLG) and $1,261 in South Maroota (The Hills rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cattai and $1,548 in South Maroota. 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 South Maroota?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,857 from Cattai and $6,905 from South Maroota to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cattai and $2,400 from South Maroota.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cattai and South Maroota?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cattai costs a cumulative $141,189 and South Maroota costs $132,568 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,621 in favour of South Maroota. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cattai and South Maroota suits you better?
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Sources: The Hills rates (OLG and The Hills 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.