Ellis Lane 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
Ellis Lane and Kirkham are both Camden rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 52.6 km and 50 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Ellis Lane runs $506 a year cheaper than Kirkham, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,800.
Over 10 years, Ellis Lane costs about $5,800 less to run than Kirkham. That's about $11 a week.
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Kirkham
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ellis Lane | 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 | $6,296 | $6,552 | -$256 |
| 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) | $11,017 | $11,523 | -$506 |
| 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 | Ellis Lane | 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, Ellis Lane vs Kirkham (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ellis Lane costs $506 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,800 in favour of Ellis Lane.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $256 per year. Ellis Lane is 52.6 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,121 from Ellis Lane 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 Ellis Lane by $256 a year, $6,296 against $6,552.
- Building insurance favours Ellis Lane 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 Ellis Lane, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ellis Lane cumulative | Kirkham cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,017 | $11,523 | $506 |
| Year 3 | $34,052 | $35,616 | $1,564 |
| Year 5 | $58,491 | $61,177 | $2,686 |
| Year 10 | $126,298 | $132,098 | $5,800 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ellis Lane or Kirkham cheaper to live in?
Ellis Lane is cheaper to run by car at $11,017 per year versus $11,523 for Kirkham, a difference of $506 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ellis Lane and Kirkham?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,573 in Ellis Lane (Camden rates (OLG) and $1,573 in Kirkham (Camden rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Ellis Lane 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 Ellis Lane and Kirkham?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,296 from Ellis Lane and $6,552 from Kirkham to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Ellis Lane and $2,400 from Kirkham.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ellis Lane and Kirkham?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ellis Lane costs a cumulative $126,298 and Kirkham costs $132,098 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,800 in favour of Ellis Lane. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ellis Lane 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.