Earlwood vs Turrella, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Earlwood (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and Turrella (Bayside rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (9.8 km and 9.3 km).
Turrella runs $745 a year cheaper than Earlwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,541.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,500, about $16 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Turrella
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Earlwood | Turrella | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,265 | +$112 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,005 | $2,872 | +$133 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,280 | $7,535 | +$745 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,195 | $6,583 | +$612 |
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 | Earlwood | Turrella | 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, Earlwood vs Turrella (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Earlwood and Turrella differ by $745 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 $245, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Earlwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $612 per year, $7,195 from Earlwood versus $6,583 from Turrella.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Turrella by $112 a year, $1,265 against $1,377.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Turrella by $133 a year, $2,872 against $3,005.
- Building insurance favours Turrella 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.
The catchment state school scores 8.7 in Earlwood against 7.5 in Turrella, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Earlwood cumulative | Turrella cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,280 | $7,535 | $745 |
| Year 3 | $25,593 | $23,290 | $2,303 |
| Year 5 | $43,960 | $40,004 | $3,956 |
| Year 10 | $94,921 | $86,380 | $8,541 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Earlwood or Turrella cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Earlwood runs $8,280 a year by car and Turrella $7,535, but most of the $745 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $245. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Earlwood and Turrella?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,377 in Earlwood (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and $1,265 in Turrella (Bayside rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Earlwood and $1,548 in Turrella. 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 Earlwood and Turrella?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,005 from Earlwood and $2,872 from Turrella to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Earlwood and $1,920 from Turrella.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Earlwood and Turrella?
At 3% annual cost growth, Earlwood costs a cumulative $94,921 and Turrella costs $86,380 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,541 in favour of Turrella. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Earlwood and Turrella suits you better?
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Sources: Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG and Bayside 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.