Gordon vs Pymble, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Gordon and Pymble are both Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in suburbs, sitting 13.4 km and 15.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $153 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 $1,800, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Pymble
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Gordon | Pymble | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,189 | $2,189 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,899 | $4,302 | -$403 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,600 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,486 | $9,639 | -$153 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,973 | $7,723 | +$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 | Gordon | Pymble | 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, Gordon vs Pymble (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Gordon and Pymble differ by $153 a year by car, but $250 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 $403, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $403 per year. Pymble is 15.2 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, $7,973 from Gordon versus $7,723 from Pymble.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $2,189 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Gordon by $403 a year, $3,899 against $4,302.
- Building insurance favours Pymble 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 Gordon against low in Pymble, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Gordon cumulative | Pymble cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,486 | $9,639 | $153 |
| Year 3 | $29,320 | $29,793 | $473 |
| Year 5 | $50,362 | $51,175 | $813 |
| Year 10 | $108,746 | $110,500 | $1,754 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gordon or Pymble cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Gordon runs $9,486 a year by car and Pymble $9,639, but most of the $153 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $403. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Gordon and Pymble?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,189 in Gordon (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) and $2,189 in Pymble (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Gordon and $1,548 in Pymble. 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 Gordon and Pymble?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,899 from Gordon and $4,302 from Pymble to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Gordon and $2,386 from Pymble.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Gordon and Pymble?
At 3% annual cost growth, Gordon costs a cumulative $108,746 and Pymble costs $110,500 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,754 in favour of Gordon. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Gordon and Pymble suits you better?
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Sources: Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in and Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in 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.