Dundas vs Telopea: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dundas and Telopea are both Parramatta rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 17.3 km and 17.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Telopea runs $371 a year cheaper than Dundas, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,253.
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 →Dundas
Telopea
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dundas | Telopea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,738 | $4,817 | -$79 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,742 | $9,371 | +$371 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,390 | $6,940 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Dundas | Telopea | 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 — Dundas vs Telopea (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Telopea costs $371 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,253 in favour of Telopea.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Dundas carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,390 from Dundas versus $6,940 from Telopea.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,156 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Dundas by $79 a year, $4,738 against $4,817.
- Building insurance favours Telopea by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
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 Dundas against low in Telopea, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.8 in Dundas against 5.8 in Telopea, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dundas cumulative | Telopea cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,742 | $9,371 | $371 |
| Year 3 | $30,112 | $28,965 | $1,147 |
| Year 5 | $51,722 | $49,752 | $1,970 |
| Year 10 | $111,681 | $107,428 | $4,253 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dundas or Telopea cheaper to live in?
Telopea is cheaper to run by car at $9,371 per year versus $9,742 for Dundas, a difference of $371 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Dundas and Telopea?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in Dundas (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Telopea (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Dundas and $1,548 in Telopea. 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 Dundas and Telopea?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,738 from Dundas and $4,817 from Telopea to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Dundas and $2,386 from Telopea.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Dundas and Telopea?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dundas costs a cumulative $111,681 and Telopea costs $107,428 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,253 in favour of Telopea. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dundas and Telopea 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: Parramatta rates (OLG and Parramatta 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.