Cumberland Reach vs Sackville North, 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 and Sackville North are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 53.5 km and 51.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cumberland Reach runs $538 a year cheaper than Sackville North, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,167.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,200, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Sackville North
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cumberland Reach | Sackville North | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,193 | $6,431 | -$238 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,500 | $2,800 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,089 | $12,627 | -$538 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,296 | $8,596 | -$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 | Cumberland Reach | Sackville North | 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 North (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cumberland Reach and Sackville North differ by $538 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 $238, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Sackville North carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,296 from Cumberland Reach versus $8,596 from Sackville North.
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 Cumberland Reach by $238 a year, $6,193 against $6,431.
- Building insurance favours Cumberland Reach by $300 a year, $2,500 against $2,800.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Sackville North against medium in Cumberland Reach, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cumberland Reach cumulative | Sackville North cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,089 | $12,627 | $538 |
| Year 3 | $37,366 | $39,029 | $1,663 |
| Year 5 | $64,182 | $67,038 | $2,856 |
| Year 10 | $138,587 | $144,754 | $6,167 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cumberland Reach or Sackville North cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cumberland Reach runs $12,089 a year by car and Sackville North $12,627, but most of the $538 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $238. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cumberland Reach and Sackville North?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Cumberland Reach (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Sackville North (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cumberland Reach and $1,548 in Sackville North. 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 North?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,193 from Cumberland Reach and $6,431 from Sackville North to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cumberland Reach and $2,400 from Sackville North.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cumberland Reach and Sackville North?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cumberland Reach costs a cumulative $138,587 and Sackville North costs $144,754 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,167 in favour of Cumberland Reach. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cumberland Reach and Sackville North suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.