Dulwich Hill vs Hurlstone Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dulwich Hill (Inner West rates (OLG) and Hurlstone Park (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (7.5 km and 8.9 km).
Dulwich Hill runs $865 a year cheaper than Hurlstone Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,916.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,900, about $19 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Hurlstone Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dulwich Hill | Hurlstone Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,401 | $1,377 | +$24 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,375 | $2,764 | -$389 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,350 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,174 | $8,039 | -$865 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,719 | $7,195 | -$476 |
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 | Dulwich Hill | Hurlstone Park | 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, Dulwich Hill vs Hurlstone Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dulwich Hill and Hurlstone Park differ by $865 a year by car, but $500 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 $365, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Hurlstone Park carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $476 per year, $6,719 from Dulwich Hill versus $7,195 from Hurlstone Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Hurlstone Park by $24 a year, $1,377 against $1,401.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Dulwich Hill by $389 a year, $2,375 against $2,764.
- Building insurance favours Dulwich Hill by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 high in Hurlstone Park against medium in Dulwich Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dulwich Hill cumulative | Hurlstone Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,174 | $8,039 | $865 |
| Year 3 | $22,174 | $24,848 | $2,674 |
| Year 5 | $38,088 | $42,680 | $4,592 |
| Year 10 | $82,242 | $92,158 | $9,916 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dulwich Hill or Hurlstone Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Dulwich Hill runs $7,174 a year by car and Hurlstone Park $8,039, but most of the $865 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $365. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Dulwich Hill and Hurlstone Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Dulwich Hill (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Hurlstone Park (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Dulwich Hill and $1,548 in Hurlstone Park. 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 Dulwich Hill and Hurlstone Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,375 from Dulwich Hill and $2,764 from Hurlstone Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Dulwich Hill and $1,920 from Hurlstone Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Dulwich Hill and Hurlstone Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dulwich Hill costs a cumulative $82,242 and Hurlstone Park costs $92,158 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,916 in favour of Dulwich Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dulwich Hill and Hurlstone Park suits you better?
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Sources: Inner West rates (OLG and Canterbury-Bankstown 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.