Haberfield vs Summer Hill, 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 and Summer Hill are both Inner West rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6.3 km and 7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $296 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 $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Summer Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Haberfield | Summer Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,401 | $1,401 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,028 | $2,232 | -$204 |
| 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 | $7,031 | +$296 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,219 | $6,719 | +$500 |
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 | Summer Hill | 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 Summer Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Haberfield and Summer Hill differ by $296 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 $204, 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 $500 per year, $7,219 from Haberfield versus $6,719 from Summer Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,401 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Haberfield by $204 a year, $2,028 against $2,232.
- Building insurance favours Summer Hill 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 Haberfield against medium in Summer Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Haberfield cumulative | Summer Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,327 | $7,031 | $296 |
| Year 3 | $22,647 | $21,732 | $915 |
| Year 5 | $38,900 | $37,329 | $1,571 |
| Year 10 | $83,996 | $80,603 | $3,393 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Haberfield or Summer Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Haberfield runs $7,327 a year by car and Summer Hill $7,031, but most of the $296 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $204. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Haberfield and Summer Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Haberfield (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,401 in Summer Hill (Inner West rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Haberfield and $1,548 in Summer Hill. 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 Summer Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,028 from Haberfield and $2,232 from Summer Hill to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Haberfield and $1,920 from Summer Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Haberfield and Summer Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Haberfield costs a cumulative $83,996 and Summer Hill costs $80,603 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,393 in favour of Summer Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Haberfield and Summer Hill suits you better?
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Sources: Inner West rates (OLG and Inner West 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.