Constitution Hill vs Girraween, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Constitution Hill (Parramatta rates (OLG) and Girraween (Cumberland rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (23.4 km and 25.5 km).
The two sit within $138 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 $1,600, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Girraween
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Constitution Hill | Girraween | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,083 | +$73 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,785 | $6,070 | -$285 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,100 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $10,339 | $10,201 | +$138 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,954 | $6,531 | +$423 |
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 | Constitution Hill | Girraween | 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, Constitution Hill vs Girraween (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Constitution Hill and Girraween differ by $138 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 $212, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Constitution Hill carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $423 per year, $6,954 from Constitution Hill versus $6,531 from Girraween.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Girraween by $73 a year, $1,083 against $1,156.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Constitution Hill by $285 a year, $5,785 against $6,070.
- Building insurance favours Girraween by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Flood risk is rated medium in Constitution Hill against low in Girraween, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.3 in Girraween against 3.5 in Constitution Hill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Constitution Hill cumulative | Girraween cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,339 | $10,201 | $138 |
| Year 3 | $31,957 | $31,530 | $427 |
| Year 5 | $54,891 | $54,158 | $733 |
| Year 10 | $118,525 | $116,943 | $1,582 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Constitution Hill or Girraween cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Constitution Hill runs $10,339 a year by car and Girraween $10,201, but most of the $138 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $212. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Constitution Hill and Girraween?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in Constitution Hill (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,083 in Girraween (Cumberland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Constitution Hill and $1,548 in Girraween. 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 Constitution Hill and Girraween?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,785 from Constitution Hill and $6,070 from Girraween to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Constitution Hill and $2,400 from Girraween.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Constitution Hill and Girraween?
At 3% annual cost growth, Constitution Hill costs a cumulative $118,525 and Girraween costs $116,943 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,582 in favour of Girraween. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Constitution Hill and Girraween suits you better?
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Sources: Parramatta rates (OLG and Cumberland 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.