Killara vs Macquarie Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Killara (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) and Macquarie Park (Ryde rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (12.1 km and 12.7 km).
Macquarie Park runs $666 a year cheaper than Killara, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,635.
Over 10 years, Macquarie Park costs about $7,600 less to run than Killara. That's about $15 a week.
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Macquarie Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Killara | Macquarie Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,189 | $1,278 | +$911 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,588 | $3,733 | -$145 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,700 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,925 | $8,259 | +$666 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,723 | $6,912 | +$811 |
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 | Killara | Macquarie Park | 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, Killara vs Macquarie Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Macquarie Park costs $666 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,635 in favour of Macquarie Park.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $911 per year.
On public transport the gap is $811 per year, $7,723 from Killara versus $6,912 from Macquarie Park.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Macquarie Park by $911 a year, $1,278 against $2,189.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Killara by $145 a year, $3,588 against $3,733.
- Building insurance favours Killara by $100 a year, $1,600 against $1,700.
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 medium in Macquarie Park against low in Killara, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Killara cumulative | Macquarie Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,925 | $8,259 | $666 |
| Year 3 | $27,586 | $25,528 | $2,058 |
| Year 5 | $47,384 | $43,848 | $3,536 |
| Year 10 | $102,315 | $94,680 | $7,635 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Killara or Macquarie Park cheaper to live in?
Macquarie Park is cheaper to run by car at $8,259 per year versus $8,925 for Killara, a difference of $666 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Killara and Macquarie Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,189 in Killara (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) and $1,278 in Macquarie Park (Ryde rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Killara and $1,548 in Macquarie Park. 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 Killara and Macquarie Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,588 from Killara and $3,733 from Macquarie Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Killara and $2,386 from Macquarie Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Killara and Macquarie Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Killara costs a cumulative $102,315 and Macquarie Park costs $94,680 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,635 in favour of Macquarie Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Killara and Macquarie Park suits you better?
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Sources: Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in and Ryde 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.