Cowan vs Fiddletown, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cowan and Fiddletown are both Hornsby rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 34.8 km and 36.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $238 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 $2,700, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Fiddletown
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cowan | Fiddletown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,541 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,871 | $6,933 | -$62 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,150 | $1,850 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,110 | $11,872 | +$238 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,639 | $7,339 | +$300 |
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 | Cowan | Fiddletown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Cowan vs Fiddletown (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cowan and Fiddletown differ by $238 a year by car, but $300 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 $62, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Cowan carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,639 from Cowan versus $7,339 from Fiddletown.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,541 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cowan by $62 a year, $6,871 against $6,933.
- Building insurance favours Fiddletown by $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
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 Cowan against low in Fiddletown, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.6 in Fiddletown against 7.6 in Cowan, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cowan cumulative | Fiddletown cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,110 | $11,872 | $238 |
| Year 3 | $37,431 | $36,695 | $736 |
| Year 5 | $64,294 | $63,030 | $1,264 |
| Year 10 | $138,828 | $136,099 | $2,729 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cowan or Fiddletown cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cowan runs $12,110 a year by car and Fiddletown $11,872, but most of the $238 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $62. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cowan and Fiddletown?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Cowan (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,541 in Fiddletown (Hornsby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cowan and $1,548 in Fiddletown. 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 Cowan and Fiddletown?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,871 from Cowan and $6,933 from Fiddletown to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cowan and $2,400 from Fiddletown.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cowan and Fiddletown?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cowan costs a cumulative $138,828 and Fiddletown costs $136,099 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,729 in favour of Fiddletown. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cowan and Fiddletown suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Hornsby 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.