Holroyd vs Mays 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
Holroyd and Mays Hill are both Cumberland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.9 km and 21 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $162 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 $1,900, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mays Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Holroyd | Mays Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,083 | $1,083 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,224 | $5,412 | -$188 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,400 | -$14 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,705 | $9,543 | +$162 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,867 | $6,531 | +$336 |
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 | Holroyd | Mays Hill | 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, Holroyd vs Mays Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Holroyd and Mays Hill differ by $162 a year by car, but $350 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 $188, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Holroyd carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $336 per year, $6,867 from Holroyd versus $6,531 from Mays Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,083 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Holroyd by $188 a year, $5,224 against $5,412.
- Building insurance favours Mays Hill by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
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 medium in Holroyd against low in Mays Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.7 in Mays Hill against 5.3 in Holroyd, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Holroyd cumulative | Mays Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,705 | $9,543 | $162 |
| Year 3 | $29,997 | $29,496 | $501 |
| Year 5 | $51,525 | $50,665 | $860 |
| Year 10 | $111,257 | $109,400 | $1,857 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Holroyd or Mays Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Holroyd runs $9,705 a year by car and Mays Hill $9,543, but most of the $162 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $188. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Holroyd and Mays Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,083 in Holroyd (Cumberland rates (OLG) and $1,083 in Mays Hill (Cumberland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Holroyd and $1,548 in Mays 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 Holroyd and Mays Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,224 from Holroyd and $5,412 from Mays Hill to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Holroyd and $2,400 from Mays Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Holroyd and Mays Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Holroyd costs a cumulative $111,257 and Mays Hill costs $109,400 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,857 in favour of Mays Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Holroyd and Mays Hill suits you better?
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Sources: Cumberland rates (OLG and Cumberland 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.