Chifley vs Port Botany: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Chifley and Port Botany are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 11.7 km and 11.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Chifley runs $600 a year cheaper than Port Botany, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,879.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Chifley
Port Botany
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Chifley | Port Botany | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,490 | $3,440 | +$50 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,950 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,061 | $9,661 | -$600 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,957 | $8,607 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Chifley | Port Botany | 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 — Chifley vs Port Botany (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Chifley costs $600 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,879 in favour of Chifley.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Port Botany carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,957 from Chifley versus $8,607 from Port Botany.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,723 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Port Botany by $50 a year, $3,440 against $3,490.
- Building insurance favours Chifley by $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
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 Port Botany against medium in Chifley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Chifley cumulative | Port Botany cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,061 | $9,661 | $600 |
| Year 3 | $28,007 | $29,861 | $1,854 |
| Year 5 | $48,106 | $51,292 | $3,186 |
| Year 10 | $103,874 | $110,753 | $6,879 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chifley or Port Botany cheaper to live in?
Chifley is cheaper to run by car at $9,061 per year versus $9,661 for Port Botany, a difference of $600 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Chifley and Port Botany?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Chifley (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in Port Botany (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Chifley and $1,548 in Port Botany. 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 Chifley and Port Botany?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,490 from Chifley and $3,440 from Port Botany to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Chifley and $2,386 from Port Botany.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Chifley and Port Botany?
At 3% annual cost growth, Chifley costs a cumulative $103,874 and Port Botany costs $110,753 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,879 in favour of Chifley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Chifley and Port Botany is best to actually live in?
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: Randwick rates (OLG and Randwick 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.