Hornsby vs North Wahroonga, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Hornsby (Hornsby rates (OLG) and North Wahroonga (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (21.5 km and 20.4 km).
Hornsby runs $1,115 a year cheaper than North Wahroonga, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,783.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $12,800, about $25 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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North Wahroonga
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Hornsby | North Wahroonga | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $2,189 | -$648 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,494 | $5,311 | +$183 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $2,200 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,133 | $11,248 | -$1,115 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,039 | $8,337 | -$1,298 |
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 | Hornsby | North Wahroonga | 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, Hornsby vs North Wahroonga (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Hornsby and North Wahroonga differ by $1,115 a year by car, but $650 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 $465, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year.
On public transport the gap is $1,298 per year, $7,039 from Hornsby versus $8,337 from North Wahroonga.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Hornsby by $648 a year, $1,541 against $2,189.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours North Wahroonga by $183 a year, $5,311 against $5,494.
- Building insurance favours Hornsby by $650 a year, $1,550 against $2,200.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in North Wahroonga against medium in Hornsby, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Hornsby cumulative | North Wahroonga cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,133 | $11,248 | $1,115 |
| Year 3 | $31,320 | $34,766 | $3,446 |
| Year 5 | $53,797 | $59,717 | $5,920 |
| Year 10 | $116,163 | $128,946 | $12,783 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hornsby or North Wahroonga cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Hornsby runs $10,133 a year by car and North Wahroonga $11,248, but most of the $1,115 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $465. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Hornsby and North Wahroonga?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Hornsby (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $2,189 in North Wahroonga (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Hornsby and $1,548 in North Wahroonga. 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 Hornsby and North Wahroonga?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,494 from Hornsby and $5,311 from North Wahroonga to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Hornsby and $2,400 from North Wahroonga.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Hornsby and North Wahroonga?
At 3% annual cost growth, Hornsby costs a cumulative $116,163 and North Wahroonga costs $128,946 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,783 in favour of Hornsby. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Hornsby and North Wahroonga suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% 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.