Kingsford vs Randwick, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kingsford and Randwick are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6.2 km and 6.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Randwick runs $350 a year cheaper than Kingsford, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,013.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Randwick
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kingsford | Randwick | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,999 | $1,999 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,120 | $6,770 | +$350 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,041 | $6,691 | +$350 |
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 | Kingsford | Randwick | 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, Kingsford vs Randwick (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kingsford and Randwick differ by $350 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Kingsford carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,041 from Kingsford versus $6,691 from Randwick.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,723 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $1,999 a year.
- Building insurance favours Randwick 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 the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Kingsford against low in Randwick, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.9 in Randwick against 6.7 in Kingsford, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kingsford cumulative | Randwick cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,120 | $6,770 | $350 |
| Year 3 | $22,007 | $20,925 | $1,082 |
| Year 5 | $37,801 | $35,943 | $1,858 |
| Year 10 | $81,623 | $77,610 | $4,013 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kingsford or Randwick cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Kingsford runs $7,120 a year by car and Randwick $6,770, but most of the $350 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kingsford and Randwick?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Kingsford (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in Randwick (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Kingsford and $1,548 in Randwick. 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 Kingsford and Randwick?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,999 from Kingsford and $1,999 from Randwick to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Kingsford and $1,920 from Randwick.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kingsford and Randwick?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kingsford costs a cumulative $81,623 and Randwick costs $77,610 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,013 in favour of Randwick. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kingsford and Randwick suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Randwick rates (OLG and Randwick 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.