Constitution Hill vs Winston 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
Constitution Hill and Winston Hills are both Parramatta rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 23.4 km and 23.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Winston Hills runs $321 a year cheaper than Constitution Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,680.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,700, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Winston Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Constitution Hill | Winston Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,785 | $5,814 | -$29 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,339 | $10,018 | +$321 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,954 | $6,604 | +$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 | Constitution Hill | Winston Hills | 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 Winston Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Constitution Hill and Winston Hills differ by $321 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 $29, 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 $350 per year, $6,954 from Constitution Hill versus $6,604 from Winston Hills.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,156 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Constitution Hill by $29 a year, $5,785 against $5,814.
- Building insurance favours Winston Hills by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
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 Constitution Hill against low in Winston Hills, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.6 in Winston Hills against 3.5 in Constitution Hill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Constitution Hill cumulative | Winston Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,339 | $10,018 | $321 |
| Year 3 | $31,957 | $30,965 | $992 |
| Year 5 | $54,891 | $53,187 | $1,704 |
| Year 10 | $118,525 | $114,845 | $3,680 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Constitution Hill or Winston Hills cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Constitution Hill runs $10,339 a year by car and Winston Hills $10,018, but most of the $321 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $29. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Constitution Hill and Winston Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in Constitution Hill (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Winston Hills (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Constitution Hill and $1,548 in Winston 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 Constitution Hill and Winston Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,785 from Constitution Hill and $5,814 from Winston Hills to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Constitution Hill and $2,400 from Winston Hills.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Constitution Hill and Winston Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Constitution Hill costs a cumulative $118,525 and Winston Hills costs $114,845 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,680 in favour of Winston Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Constitution Hill and Winston Hills suits you better?
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Sources: Parramatta rates (OLG and Parramatta 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.