Grays Point vs Warumbul, 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 Warumbul are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 23.8 km and 27.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Grays Point runs $1,274 a year cheaper than Warumbul, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $14,605.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $14,600, about $28 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Warumbul
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Grays Point | Warumbul | 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 | $6,317 | -$474 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,650 | -$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,100 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $10,858 | $12,132 | -$1,274 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,415 | $8,215 | -$800 |
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 | Warumbul | 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 Warumbul (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Grays Point and Warumbul differ by $1,274 a year by car, but $800 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 $474, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Warumbul carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $7,415 from Grays Point versus $8,215 from Warumbul.
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 Grays Point by $474 a year, $5,843 against $6,317.
- Building insurance favours Grays Point by $800 a year, $1,850 against $2,650.
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 high in Warumbul against low in Grays Point, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Grays Point cumulative | Warumbul cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,858 | $12,132 | $1,274 |
| Year 3 | $33,561 | $37,499 | $3,938 |
| Year 5 | $57,647 | $64,410 | $6,763 |
| Year 10 | $124,475 | $139,080 | $14,605 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grays Point or Warumbul cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Grays Point runs $10,858 a year by car and Warumbul $12,132, but most of the $1,274 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $474. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Grays Point and Warumbul?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Grays Point (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Warumbul (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Grays Point and $1,548 in Warumbul. 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 Warumbul?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,843 from Grays Point and $6,317 from Warumbul to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Grays Point and $2,400 from Warumbul.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Grays Point and Warumbul?
At 3% annual cost growth, Grays Point costs a cumulative $124,475 and Warumbul costs $139,080 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $14,605 in favour of Grays Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Grays Point and Warumbul 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.