Eastwood vs Epping, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Eastwood (Ryde rates (OLG) and Epping (Parramatta rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (14.7 km and 15.7 km).
The two sit within $194 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,200, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Epping
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Eastwood | Epping | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,278 | $1,156 | +$122 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,193 | $4,409 | -$216 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,600 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,519 | $8,713 | -$194 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,712 | $6,690 | +$22 |
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 | Eastwood | Epping | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,720 | -$378 |
| Unit | $1,909 | $2,209 | -$300 |
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, Eastwood vs Epping (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Eastwood and Epping differ by $194 a year by car, but $100 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 $94, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $216 per year. Epping is 15.7 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,712 and $6,690 a year, so the $194 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Epping by $122 a year, $1,156 against $1,278.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Eastwood by $216 a year, $4,193 against $4,409.
- Building insurance favours Eastwood by $100 a year, $1,500 against $1,600.
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 9.7 in Epping against 8.7 in Eastwood, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Eastwood cumulative | Epping cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,519 | $8,713 | $194 |
| Year 3 | $26,331 | $26,931 | $600 |
| Year 5 | $45,229 | $46,259 | $1,030 |
| Year 10 | $97,661 | $99,885 | $2,224 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eastwood or Epping cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Eastwood runs $8,519 a year by car and Epping $8,713, but most of the $194 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $94. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Eastwood and Epping?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,278 in Eastwood (Ryde rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Epping (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Eastwood and $1,548 in Epping. 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 Eastwood and Epping?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,193 from Eastwood and $4,409 from Epping to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Eastwood and $2,386 from Epping.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Eastwood and Epping?
At 3% annual cost growth, Eastwood costs a cumulative $97,661 and Epping costs $99,885 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,224 in favour of Eastwood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Eastwood and Epping suits you better?
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Sources: Ryde 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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.