Elderslie vs Kirkham, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Elderslie and Kirkham are both Camden rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 50.6 km and 50 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Elderslie runs $304 a year cheaper than Kirkham, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,485.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,500, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Kirkham
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Elderslie | Kirkham | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,573 | $1,573 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,498 | $6,552 | -$54 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,850 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,219 | $11,523 | -$304 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,121 | $7,371 | -$250 |
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 | Elderslie | Kirkham | 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, Elderslie vs Kirkham (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Elderslie and Kirkham differ by $304 a year by car, but $250 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 $54, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,121 from Elderslie versus $7,371 from Kirkham.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,573 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Elderslie by $54 a year, $6,498 against $6,552.
- Building insurance favours Elderslie by $250 a year, $1,600 against $1,850.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Kirkham against low in Elderslie, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Elderslie cumulative | Kirkham cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,219 | $11,523 | $304 |
| Year 3 | $34,677 | $35,616 | $939 |
| Year 5 | $59,563 | $61,177 | $1,614 |
| Year 10 | $128,613 | $132,098 | $3,485 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elderslie or Kirkham cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Elderslie runs $11,219 a year by car and Kirkham $11,523, but most of the $304 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $54. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Elderslie and Kirkham?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,573 in Elderslie (Camden rates (OLG) and $1,573 in Kirkham (Camden rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Elderslie and $1,548 in Kirkham. 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 Elderslie and Kirkham?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,498 from Elderslie and $6,552 from Kirkham to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Elderslie and $2,400 from Kirkham.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Elderslie and Kirkham?
At 3% annual cost growth, Elderslie costs a cumulative $128,613 and Kirkham costs $132,098 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,485 in favour of Elderslie. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Elderslie and Kirkham suits you better?
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Sources: Camden rates (OLG and Camden 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.