Claremont Meadows vs Werrington, 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 Werrington are both Penrith rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 43 km and 43.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $263 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 $3,000, about $6 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
Werrington
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Claremont Meadows | Werrington | 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 | $6,936 | +$13 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $1,850 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,201 | $11,938 | +$263 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,652 | $7,402 | +$250 |
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 | Werrington | 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 Werrington (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Claremont Meadows and Werrington differ by $263 a year by car, but $250 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 $13, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. Claremont Meadows carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,652 from Claremont Meadows versus $7,402 from Werrington.
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 Werrington by $13 a year, $6,936 against $6,949.
- Building insurance favours Werrington by $250 a year, $1,850 against $2,100.
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 medium in Claremont Meadows against low in Werrington, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.3 in Claremont Meadows against 5.1 in Werrington, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Claremont Meadows cumulative | Werrington cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,201 | $11,938 | $263 |
| Year 3 | $37,712 | $36,899 | $813 |
| Year 5 | $64,777 | $63,380 | $1,397 |
| Year 10 | $139,871 | $136,856 | $3,015 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claremont Meadows or Werrington cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Claremont Meadows runs $12,201 a year by car and Werrington $11,938, but most of the $263 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $13. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Claremont Meadows and Werrington?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,604 in Claremont Meadows (Penrith rates (OLG) and $1,604 in Werrington (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Claremont Meadows and $1,548 in Werrington. 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 Werrington?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,949 from Claremont Meadows and $6,936 from Werrington to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Claremont Meadows and $2,400 from Werrington.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Claremont Meadows and Werrington?
At 3% annual cost growth, Claremont Meadows costs a cumulative $139,871 and Werrington costs $136,856 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,015 in favour of Werrington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Claremont Meadows and Werrington 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.