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 $556 a year cheaper than Kirkham, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,373.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Ellis Lane
Kirkham
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ellis Lane | Kirkham | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,573 | $1,573 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,296 | $6,552 | -$256 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,150 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,267 | $11,823 | -$556 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,371 | $7,671 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 $556 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,373 in favour of Ellis Lane.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,371 from Ellis Lane versus $7,671 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 $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
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 | $11,267 | $11,823 | $556 |
| Year 3 | $34,825 | $36,544 | $1,719 |
| Year 5 | $59,818 | $62,770 | $2,952 |
| Year 10 | $129,164 | $135,537 | $6,373 |
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 $11,267 per year versus $11,823 for Kirkham, a difference of $556 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 $129,164 and Kirkham costs $135,537 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,373 in favour of Ellis Lane. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ellis Lane and Kirkham is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.