Claremont Meadows vs St Marys, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Claremont Meadows and St Marys are both Penrith rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 43 km and 43.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Claremont Meadows runs $348 a year cheaper than St Marys, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,989.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Sydney suburbs that fit your budget →Claremont Meadows
St Marys
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Claremont Meadows | St Marys | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,604 | $1,604 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,949 | $6,947 | +$2 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $2,450 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,201 | $12,549 | -$348 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,652 | $8,002 | -$350 |
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 | Claremont Meadows | St Marys | 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, Claremont Meadows vs St Marys (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Claremont Meadows and St Marys differ by $348 a year by car, but $350 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 $2, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. St Marys carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,652 from Claremont Meadows versus $8,002 from St Marys.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,604 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours St Marys by $2 a year, $6,947 against $6,949.
- Building insurance favours Claremont Meadows by $350 a year, $2,100 against $2,450.
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.
The catchment state school scores 6.3 in Claremont Meadows against 2.8 in St Marys, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Claremont Meadows cumulative | St Marys cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,201 | $12,549 | $348 |
| Year 3 | $37,712 | $38,788 | $1,076 |
| Year 5 | $64,777 | $66,624 | $1,847 |
| Year 10 | $139,871 | $143,860 | $3,989 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claremont Meadows or St Marys cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Claremont Meadows runs $12,201 a year by car and St Marys $12,549, but most of the $348 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $2. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Claremont Meadows and St Marys?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,604 in Claremont Meadows (Penrith rates (OLG) and $1,604 in St Marys (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Claremont Meadows and $1,548 in St Marys. 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 Claremont Meadows and St Marys?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,949 from Claremont Meadows and $6,947 from St Marys to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Claremont Meadows and $2,400 from St Marys.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Claremont Meadows and St Marys?
At 3% annual cost growth, Claremont Meadows costs a cumulative $139,871 and St Marys costs $143,860 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,989 in favour of Claremont Meadows. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Claremont Meadows and St Marys suits you better?
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: Penrith rates (OLG and Penrith 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.