Ermington vs Wentworth Point, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ermington and Wentworth Point are both Parramatta rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 14.9 km and 12.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Wentworth Point runs $956 a year cheaper than Ermington, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,960.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,000, about $21 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wentworth Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ermington | Wentworth Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,237 | $3,781 | +$456 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,291 | $8,335 | +$956 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,440 | $6,940 | +$500 |
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 | Ermington | Wentworth Point | 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, Ermington vs Wentworth Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Ermington and Wentworth Point differ by $956 a year by car, but $500 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 $456, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Ermington carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,440 from Ermington versus $6,940 from Wentworth Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,156 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Wentworth Point by $456 a year, $3,781 against $4,237.
- Building insurance favours Wentworth Point by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 | Ermington cumulative | Wentworth Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,291 | $8,335 | $956 |
| Year 3 | $28,718 | $25,763 | $2,955 |
| Year 5 | $49,327 | $44,252 | $5,075 |
| Year 10 | $106,511 | $95,551 | $10,960 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ermington or Wentworth Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Ermington runs $9,291 a year by car and Wentworth Point $8,335, but most of the $956 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $456. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ermington and Wentworth Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in Ermington (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Wentworth Point (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Ermington and $1,548 in Wentworth Point. 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 Ermington and Wentworth Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,237 from Ermington and $3,781 from Wentworth Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Ermington and $2,386 from Wentworth Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ermington and Wentworth Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ermington costs a cumulative $106,511 and Wentworth Point costs $95,551 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,960 in favour of Wentworth Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ermington and Wentworth Point suits you better?
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Sources: Parramatta rates (OLG and Parramatta 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.