Grays Point vs Kirrawee, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Grays Point and Kirrawee are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 23.8 km and 22.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Kirrawee runs $507 a year cheaper than Grays Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,812.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,800, about $11 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Kirrawee
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Grays Point | Kirrawee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,843 | $5,636 | +$207 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,858 | $10,351 | +$507 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,415 | $7,115 | +$300 |
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 | Grays Point | Kirrawee | 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, Grays Point vs Kirrawee (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Grays Point and Kirrawee differ by $507 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 $207, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Grays Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,415 from Grays Point versus $7,115 from Kirrawee.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,617 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kirrawee by $207 a year, $5,636 against $5,843.
- Building insurance favours Kirrawee by $300 a year, $1,550 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.
Flood risk is rated high in Grays Point against low in Kirrawee, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Kirrawee against low in Grays Point, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.8 in Grays Point against 7.3 in Kirrawee, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Grays Point cumulative | Kirrawee cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,858 | $10,351 | $507 |
| Year 3 | $33,561 | $31,994 | $1,567 |
| Year 5 | $57,647 | $54,955 | $2,692 |
| Year 10 | $124,475 | $118,663 | $5,812 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grays Point or Kirrawee cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Grays Point runs $10,858 a year by car and Kirrawee $10,351, but most of the $507 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $207. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Grays Point and Kirrawee?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Grays Point (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Kirrawee (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Grays Point and $1,548 in Kirrawee. 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 Grays Point and Kirrawee?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,843 from Grays Point and $5,636 from Kirrawee to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Grays Point and $2,400 from Kirrawee.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Grays Point and Kirrawee?
At 3% annual cost growth, Grays Point costs a cumulative $124,475 and Kirrawee costs $118,663 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,812 in favour of Kirrawee. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Grays Point and Kirrawee suits you better?
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Sources: Sutherland rates (OLG and Sutherland 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.