East Kurrajong vs Tennyson, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
East Kurrajong and Tennyson are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 56.6 km and 58.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tennyson runs $593 a year cheaper than East Kurrajong, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,798.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,800, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tennyson
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | East Kurrajong | Tennyson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,785 | $5,542 | +$243 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $1,650 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,181 | $10,588 | +$593 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,796 | $7,446 | +$350 |
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 | East Kurrajong | Tennyson | 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, East Kurrajong vs Tennyson (2026-27)
What the numbers show
East Kurrajong and Tennyson differ by $593 a year by car, but $350 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 $243, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. East Kurrajong carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,796 from East Kurrajong versus $7,446 from Tennyson.
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 Tennyson by $243 a year, $5,542 against $5,785.
- Building insurance favours Tennyson by $350 a year, $1,650 against $2,000.
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 East Kurrajong against low in Tennyson, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | East Kurrajong cumulative | Tennyson cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,181 | $10,588 | $593 |
| Year 3 | $34,559 | $32,726 | $1,833 |
| Year 5 | $59,361 | $56,213 | $3,148 |
| Year 10 | $128,178 | $121,380 | $6,798 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is East Kurrajong or Tennyson cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. East Kurrajong runs $11,181 a year by car and Tennyson $10,588, but most of the $593 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $243. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in East Kurrajong and Tennyson?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in East Kurrajong (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Tennyson (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in East Kurrajong and $1,548 in Tennyson. 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 East Kurrajong and Tennyson?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,785 from East Kurrajong and $5,542 from Tennyson to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from East Kurrajong and $2,400 from Tennyson.
What is the 10-year cost difference between East Kurrajong and Tennyson?
At 3% annual cost growth, East Kurrajong costs a cumulative $128,178 and Tennyson costs $121,380 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,798 in favour of Tennyson. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of East Kurrajong and Tennyson 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.