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.
Cherrybrook runs $809 a year cheaper than Dural, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,274.
Over 10 years, Cherrybrook costs about $9,300 less to run than Dural — the same as paying $9,300 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
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Dural
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cherrybrook | Dural | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,541 | $1,541 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,636 | $6,045 | -$409 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,150 | $2,550 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,100 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $10,875 | $11,684 | -$809 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,639 | $8,039 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $809 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,274 in favour of Cherrybrook.
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 $400 per year, $7,639 from Cherrybrook versus $8,039 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 Cherrybrook by $400 a year, $2,150 against $2,550.
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 | $11,684 | $809 |
| Year 3 | $33,614 | $36,114 | $2,500 |
| Year 5 | $57,737 | $62,032 | $4,295 |
| Year 10 | $124,670 | $133,944 | $9,274 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cherrybrook or Dural cheaper to live in?
Cherrybrook is cheaper to run by car at $10,875 per year versus $11,684 for Dural, a difference of $809 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $133,944 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,274 in favour of Cherrybrook. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cherrybrook and Dural is best to actually live in?
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Related comparisons
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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.