Emerton vs North St Marys, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Emerton (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) and North St Marys (Penrith rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (39.7 km and 40.8 km).
Emerton runs $542 a year cheaper than North St Marys, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,213.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,200, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Sydney suburbs that fit your budget →Emerton
North St Marys
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Emerton | North St Marys | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,360 | $1,604 | -$244 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,988 | $6,986 | +$2 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,150 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,746 | $12,288 | -$542 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,158 | $7,702 | -$544 |
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 | Emerton | North St Marys | 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, Emerton vs North St Marys (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Emerton and North St Marys differ by $542 a year by car, but $300 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 $242, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $544 per year, $7,158 from Emerton versus $7,702 from North St Marys.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Emerton by $244 a year, $1,360 against $1,604.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours North St Marys by $2 a year, $6,986 against $6,988.
- Building insurance favours Emerton by $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in North St Marys against low in Emerton, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Emerton cumulative | North St Marys cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,746 | $12,288 | $542 |
| Year 3 | $36,306 | $37,981 | $1,675 |
| Year 5 | $62,361 | $65,239 | $2,878 |
| Year 10 | $134,655 | $140,868 | $6,213 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Emerton or North St Marys cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Emerton runs $11,746 a year by car and North St Marys $12,288, but most of the $542 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $242. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Emerton and North St Marys?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,360 in Emerton (Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for) and $1,604 in North St Marys (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Emerton and $1,548 in North St Marys. 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 Emerton and North St Marys?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,988 from Emerton and $6,986 from North St Marys to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Emerton and $2,400 from North St Marys.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Emerton and North St Marys?
At 3% annual cost growth, Emerton costs a cumulative $134,655 and North St Marys costs $140,868 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,213 in favour of Emerton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Emerton and North St Marys suits you better?
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: Blacktown City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 11.54% adopted for and Penrith 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.