Cumberland Reach vs Sackville, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cumberland Reach (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and Sackville (The Hills rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (53.5 km and 51.9 km).
The two sit within $260 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.
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Sackville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cumberland Reach | Sackville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,261 | +$587 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,193 | $6,370 | -$177 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,500 | $2,650 | -$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,089 | $11,829 | +$260 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,296 | $7,859 | +$437 |
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 | Cumberland Reach | Sackville | 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, Cumberland Reach vs Sackville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cumberland Reach and Sackville differ by $260 a year by car, but $150 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 $410, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $587 per year.
On public transport the gap is $437 per year, $8,296 from Cumberland Reach versus $7,859 from Sackville.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Sackville by $587 a year, $1,261 against $1,848.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cumberland Reach by $177 a year, $6,193 against $6,370.
- Building insurance favours Cumberland Reach by $150 a year, $2,500 against $2,650.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Sackville against medium in Cumberland Reach, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cumberland Reach cumulative | Sackville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,089 | $11,829 | $260 |
| Year 3 | $37,366 | $36,562 | $804 |
| Year 5 | $64,182 | $62,802 | $1,380 |
| Year 10 | $138,587 | $135,606 | $2,981 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cumberland Reach or Sackville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cumberland Reach runs $12,089 a year by car and Sackville $11,829, but most of the $260 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $410. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cumberland Reach and Sackville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Cumberland Reach (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,261 in Sackville (The Hills rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cumberland Reach and $1,548 in Sackville. 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 Cumberland Reach and Sackville?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,193 from Cumberland Reach and $6,370 from Sackville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cumberland Reach and $2,400 from Sackville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cumberland Reach and Sackville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cumberland Reach costs a cumulative $138,587 and Sackville costs $135,606 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,981 in favour of Sackville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cumberland Reach and Sackville suits you better?
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Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and The Hills 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.