Clarendon vs Richmond: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Clarendon and Richmond are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 47.6 km and 51.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Richmond runs $315 a year cheaper than Clarendon, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,611.
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 →Clarendon
Richmond
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clarendon | Richmond | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,736 | $6,421 | +$315 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,250 | $3,250 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $13,382 | $13,067 | +$315 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,046 | $9,046 | - |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Clarendon | Richmond | 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 — Clarendon vs Richmond (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Richmond costs $315 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,611 in favour of Richmond.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $315 per year. Richmond is 51.4 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $9,046 and $9,046 a year, so the $315 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Richmond by $315 a year, $6,421 against $6,736.
- Building insurance is identical at $3,250 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 7.2 in Richmond against 2.5 in Clarendon, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Clarendon cumulative | Richmond cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $13,382 | $13,067 | $315 |
| Year 3 | $41,362 | $40,389 | $973 |
| Year 5 | $71,047 | $69,374 | $1,673 |
| Year 10 | $153,410 | $149,799 | $3,611 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clarendon or Richmond cheaper to live in?
Richmond is cheaper to run by car at $13,067 per year versus $13,382 for Clarendon, a difference of $315 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Clarendon and Richmond?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Clarendon (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Richmond (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Clarendon and $1,548 in Richmond. 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 Clarendon and Richmond?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,736 from Clarendon and $6,421 from Richmond to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Clarendon and $2,400 from Richmond.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Clarendon and Richmond?
At 3% annual cost growth, Clarendon costs a cumulative $153,410 and Richmond costs $149,799 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,611 in favour of Richmond. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clarendon and Richmond 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: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in 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.