Haberfield vs Rodd 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
Haberfield (Inner West rates (OLG) and Rodd Point (Canada Bay rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (6.3 km and 5.9 km).
Rodd Point runs $751 a year cheaper than Haberfield, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,610.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,600, about $17 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rodd Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Haberfield | Rodd Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,401 | $1,268 | +$133 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,028 | $1,910 | +$118 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,327 | $6,576 | +$751 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,219 | $6,586 | +$633 |
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 | Haberfield | Rodd Point | 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, Haberfield vs Rodd Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Haberfield and Rodd Point differ by $751 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 $251, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Haberfield carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $633 per year, $7,219 from Haberfield versus $6,586 from Rodd Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Rodd Point by $133 a year, $1,268 against $1,401.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Rodd Point by $118 a year, $1,910 against $2,028.
- Building insurance favours Rodd Point by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Haberfield cumulative | Rodd Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,327 | $6,576 | $751 |
| Year 3 | $22,647 | $20,326 | $2,321 |
| Year 5 | $38,900 | $34,913 | $3,987 |
| Year 10 | $83,996 | $75,386 | $8,610 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Haberfield or Rodd Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Haberfield runs $7,327 a year by car and Rodd Point $6,576, but most of the $751 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $251. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Haberfield and Rodd Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Haberfield (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,268 in Rodd Point (Canada Bay rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Haberfield and $1,548 in Rodd 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 Haberfield and Rodd Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,028 from Haberfield and $1,910 from Rodd Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Haberfield and $1,920 from Rodd Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Haberfield and Rodd Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Haberfield costs a cumulative $83,996 and Rodd Point costs $75,386 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,610 in favour of Rodd Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Haberfield and Rodd Point suits you better?
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Sources: Inner West rates (OLG and Canada Bay 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.