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 $1,022 a year cheaper than Richmond, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,717.
Over 10 years, Hobartville costs about $11,700 less to run than Richmond — the same as paying $11,700 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Hobartville
Richmond
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Hobartville | Richmond | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,349 | $6,421 | -$72 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $3,250 | -$950 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,045 | $13,067 | -$1,022 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,096 | $9,046 | -$950 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $1,022 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $11,717 in favour of Hobartville.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $950 per year. Richmond carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $950 per year, $8,096 from Hobartville versus $9,046 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 $950 a year, $2,300 against $3,250.
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 | $12,045 | $13,067 | $1,022 |
| Year 3 | $37,230 | $40,389 | $3,159 |
| Year 5 | $63,949 | $69,374 | $5,425 |
| Year 10 | $138,082 | $149,799 | $11,717 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hobartville or Richmond cheaper to live in?
Hobartville is cheaper to run by car at $12,045 per year versus $13,067 for Richmond, a difference of $1,022 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $138,082 and Richmond costs $149,799 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,717 in favour of Hobartville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Hobartville and Richmond is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.