Dulwich Hill vs Marrickville: 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 and Marrickville are both Inner West rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 7.5 km and 7.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Dulwich Hill runs $621 a year cheaper than Marrickville, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,119.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Dulwich Hill
Marrickville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dulwich Hill | Marrickville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,401 | $1,401 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $2,375 | $2,346 | +$29 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,950 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,624 | $8,245 | -$621 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,169 | $7,819 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Dulwich Hill | Marrickville | 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 Marrickville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dulwich Hill costs $621 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,119 in favour of Dulwich Hill.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Marrickville carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,169 from Dulwich Hill versus $7,819 from Marrickville.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,401 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Marrickville by $29 a year, $2,346 against $2,375.
- Building insurance favours Dulwich Hill by $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
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 high in Marrickville against medium in Dulwich Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dulwich Hill cumulative | Marrickville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,624 | $8,245 | $621 |
| Year 3 | $23,565 | $25,484 | $1,919 |
| Year 5 | $40,477 | $43,774 | $3,297 |
| Year 10 | $87,401 | $94,520 | $7,119 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dulwich Hill or Marrickville cheaper to live in?
Dulwich Hill is cheaper to run by car at $7,624 per year versus $8,245 for Marrickville, a difference of $621 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Dulwich Hill and Marrickville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Dulwich Hill (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,401 in Marrickville (Inner West rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Dulwich Hill and $1,548 in Marrickville. 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 Marrickville?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,375 from Dulwich Hill and $2,346 from Marrickville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Dulwich Hill and $1,920 from Marrickville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Dulwich Hill and Marrickville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dulwich Hill costs a cumulative $87,401 and Marrickville costs $94,520 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,119 in favour of Dulwich Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dulwich Hill and Marrickville is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Inner West rates (OLG and Inner West rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.