Chippendale vs Surry Hills: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Chippendale and Surry Hills are both Sydney rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 2.1 km and 1.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Surry Hills runs $517 a year cheaper than Chippendale, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,927.
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 →Chippendale
Surry Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Chippendale | Surry Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $924 | $924 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $715 | $648 | +$67 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,487 | $4,970 | +$517 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,692 | $6,242 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Chippendale | Surry Hills | 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 — Chippendale vs Surry Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Surry Hills costs $517 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,927 in favour of Surry Hills.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Chippendale carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $6,692 from Chippendale versus $6,242 from Surry Hills.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $924 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Surry Hills by $67 a year, $648 against $715.
- Building insurance favours Surry Hills by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
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 medium in Chippendale against low in Surry Hills, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.4 in Surry Hills against 5.6 in Chippendale, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Chippendale cumulative | Surry Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,487 | $4,970 | $517 |
| Year 3 | $16,960 | $15,362 | $1,598 |
| Year 5 | $29,131 | $26,386 | $2,745 |
| Year 10 | $62,902 | $56,975 | $5,927 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chippendale or Surry Hills cheaper to live in?
Surry Hills is cheaper to run by car at $4,970 per year versus $5,487 for Chippendale, a difference of $517 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Chippendale and Surry Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $924 in Chippendale (Sydney rates (OLG) and $924 in Surry Hills (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Chippendale and $1,548 in Surry Hills. 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 Chippendale and Surry Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $715 from Chippendale and $648 from Surry Hills to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Chippendale and $1,920 from Surry Hills.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Chippendale and Surry Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Chippendale costs a cumulative $62,902 and Surry Hills costs $56,975 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,927 in favour of Surry Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Chippendale and Surry Hills 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: Sydney rates (OLG and Sydney 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.