Granville vs Merrylands, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Granville and Merrylands are both Cumberland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19 km and 20.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $269 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 $3,100, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Merrylands
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Granville | Merrylands | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,083 | $1,083 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,063 | $5,294 | -$231 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,400 | -$14 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,044 | $9,775 | +$269 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,367 | $6,881 | +$486 |
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 | Granville | Merrylands | 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, Granville vs Merrylands (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Granville and Merrylands differ by $269 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 $231, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Granville carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $486 per year, $7,367 from Granville versus $6,881 from Merrylands.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,083 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Granville by $231 a year, $5,063 against $5,294.
- Building insurance favours Merrylands 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.
Flood risk is rated high in Granville against medium in Merrylands, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Granville cumulative | Merrylands cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,044 | $9,775 | $269 |
| Year 3 | $31,045 | $30,214 | $831 |
| Year 5 | $53,325 | $51,897 | $1,428 |
| Year 10 | $115,143 | $112,059 | $3,084 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Granville or Merrylands cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Granville runs $10,044 a year by car and Merrylands $9,775, but most of the $269 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $231. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Granville and Merrylands?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,083 in Granville (Cumberland rates (OLG) and $1,083 in Merrylands (Cumberland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Granville and $1,548 in Merrylands. 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 Granville and Merrylands?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,063 from Granville and $5,294 from Merrylands to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Granville and $2,400 from Merrylands.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Granville and Merrylands?
At 3% annual cost growth, Granville costs a cumulative $115,143 and Merrylands costs $112,059 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,084 in favour of Merrylands. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Granville and Merrylands suits you better?
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Sources: Cumberland rates (OLG and Cumberland 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.