Cherrybrook vs Dural, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cherrybrook and Dural are both Hornsby rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 22.4 km and 25.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $109 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 $1,200, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Dural
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cherrybrook | Dural | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,541 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,636 | $6,045 | -$409 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $1,850 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,100 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $10,875 | $10,984 | -$109 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,639 | $7,339 | +$300 |
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 | Cherrybrook | Dural | 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, Cherrybrook vs Dural (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cherrybrook and Dural differ by $109 a year by car, but $300 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 $409, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $409 per year. Dural is 25.3 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,639 from Cherrybrook versus $7,339 from Dural.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,541 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cherrybrook by $409 a year, $5,636 against $6,045.
- Building insurance favours Dural by $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
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 high in Dural against medium in Cherrybrook, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 10 in Cherrybrook against 8.6 in Dural, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cherrybrook cumulative | Dural cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,875 | $10,984 | $109 |
| Year 3 | $33,614 | $33,950 | $336 |
| Year 5 | $57,737 | $58,316 | $579 |
| Year 10 | $124,670 | $125,919 | $1,249 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cherrybrook or Dural cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cherrybrook runs $10,875 a year by car and Dural $10,984, but most of the $109 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $409. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cherrybrook and Dural?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Cherrybrook (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,541 in Dural (Hornsby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cherrybrook and $1,548 in Dural. 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 Cherrybrook and Dural?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,636 from Cherrybrook and $6,045 from Dural to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cherrybrook and $2,400 from Dural.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cherrybrook and Dural?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cherrybrook costs a cumulative $124,670 and Dural costs $125,919 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,249 in favour of Cherrybrook. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cherrybrook and Dural suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Hornsby 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.