Enmore vs Newtown, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Enmore and Newtown are both Inner West rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 5 km and 4.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $277 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 $3,200, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Newtown
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Enmore | Newtown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,401 | $1,401 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,638 | $1,515 | +$123 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $3,500 | -$900 |
| Total (driving) | $6,037 | $6,314 | -$277 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,319 | $6,719 | -$400 |
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 | Enmore | Newtown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Enmore vs Newtown (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Enmore and Newtown differ by $277 a year by car, but $400 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 $123, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Newtown carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $6,319 from Enmore versus $6,719 from Newtown.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,401 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Newtown by $123 a year, $1,515 against $1,638.
- Building insurance favours Enmore by $400 a year, $1,450 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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Enmore cumulative | Newtown cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,037 | $6,314 | $277 |
| Year 3 | $18,660 | $19,516 | $856 |
| Year 5 | $32,051 | $33,522 | $1,471 |
| Year 10 | $69,207 | $72,383 | $3,176 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Enmore or Newtown cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Enmore runs $6,037 a year by car and Newtown $6,314, but most of the $277 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $123. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Enmore and Newtown?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Enmore (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,401 in Newtown (Inner West rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Enmore and $1,548 in Newtown. 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 Enmore and Newtown?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,638 from Enmore and $1,515 from Newtown to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Enmore and $1,920 from Newtown.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Enmore and Newtown?
At 3% annual cost growth, Enmore costs a cumulative $69,207 and Newtown costs $72,383 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,176 in favour of Enmore. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Enmore and Newtown suits you better?
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Sources: Inner West rates (OLG and Inner West 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.