Hobartville vs Richmond, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Hobartville and Richmond are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 52.1 km and 51.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Hobartville runs $672 a year cheaper than Richmond, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,704.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,700, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Richmond
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Hobartville | Richmond | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,349 | $6,421 | -$72 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,400 | $2,000 | -$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,145 | $11,817 | -$672 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,196 | $7,796 | -$600 |
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 | Hobartville | Richmond | 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, Hobartville vs Richmond (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Hobartville and Richmond differ by $672 a year by car, but $600 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 $72, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Richmond carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $7,196 from Hobartville versus $7,796 from Richmond.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Hobartville by $72 a year, $6,349 against $6,421.
- Building insurance favours Hobartville by $600 a year, $1,400 against $2,000.
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 Richmond against medium in Hobartville, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Richmond against low in Hobartville, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.2 in Richmond against 5 in Hobartville, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Hobartville cumulative | Richmond cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,145 | $11,817 | $672 |
| Year 3 | $34,448 | $36,525 | $2,077 |
| Year 5 | $59,170 | $62,738 | $3,568 |
| Year 10 | $127,765 | $135,469 | $7,704 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hobartville or Richmond cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Hobartville runs $11,145 a year by car and Richmond $11,817, but most of the $672 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $72. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Hobartville and Richmond?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Hobartville (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Richmond (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Hobartville and $1,548 in Richmond. 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 Hobartville and Richmond?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,349 from Hobartville and $6,421 from Richmond to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Hobartville and $2,400 from Richmond.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Hobartville and Richmond?
At 3% annual cost growth, Hobartville costs a cumulative $127,765 and Richmond costs $135,469 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,704 in favour of Hobartville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Hobartville and Richmond suits you better?
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Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in 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.