Hornsby vs Waitara, 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 and Waitara are both Hornsby rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.5 km and 20.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Waitara runs $435 a year cheaper than Hornsby, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,986.
Over 10 years, Waitara costs about $5,000 less to run than Hornsby. That's about $10 a week.
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Waitara
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Hornsby | Waitara | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,541 | $1,541 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,494 | $5,259 | +$235 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,350 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,133 | $9,698 | +$435 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,039 | $6,839 | +$200 |
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 | Waitara | 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 Waitara (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Waitara costs $435 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,986 in favour of Waitara.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $235 per year. Hornsby is 21.5 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,039 from Hornsby versus $6,839 from Waitara.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,541 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Waitara by $235 a year, $5,259 against $5,494.
- Building insurance favours Waitara by $200 a year, $1,350 against $1,550.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Hornsby against low in Waitara, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Hornsby cumulative | Waitara cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,133 | $9,698 | $435 |
| Year 3 | $31,320 | $29,976 | $1,344 |
| Year 5 | $53,797 | $51,488 | $2,309 |
| Year 10 | $116,163 | $111,177 | $4,986 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hornsby or Waitara cheaper to live in?
Waitara is cheaper to run by car at $9,698 per year versus $10,133 for Hornsby, a difference of $435 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Hornsby and Waitara?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,541 in Hornsby (Hornsby rates (OLG) and $1,541 in Waitara (Hornsby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Hornsby and $1,548 in Waitara. 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 Waitara?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,494 from Hornsby and $5,259 from Waitara to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Hornsby and $2,400 from Waitara.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Hornsby and Waitara?
At 3% annual cost growth, Hornsby costs a cumulative $116,163 and Waitara costs $111,177 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,986 in favour of Waitara. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Hornsby and Waitara suits you better?
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Sources: Hornsby rates (OLG and Hornsby 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.