Kirkham vs Narellan, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kirkham and Narellan are both Camden rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 50 km and 48.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $107 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 $1,200, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Narellan
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kirkham | Narellan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,573 | $1,573 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,552 | $6,695 | -$143 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,600 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,523 | $11,416 | +$107 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,371 | $7,121 | +$250 |
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 | Kirkham | Narellan | 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, Kirkham vs Narellan (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kirkham and Narellan differ by $107 a year by car, but $250 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 $143, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,371 from Kirkham versus $7,121 from Narellan.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,573 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kirkham by $143 a year, $6,552 against $6,695.
- Building insurance favours Narellan by $250 a year, $1,600 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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Kirkham against low in Narellan, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7 in Kirkham against 5.2 in Narellan, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kirkham cumulative | Narellan cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,523 | $11,416 | $107 |
| Year 3 | $35,616 | $35,286 | $330 |
| Year 5 | $61,177 | $60,609 | $568 |
| Year 10 | $132,098 | $130,872 | $1,226 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kirkham or Narellan cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Kirkham runs $11,523 a year by car and Narellan $11,416, but most of the $107 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $143. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kirkham and Narellan?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,573 in Kirkham (Camden rates (OLG) and $1,573 in Narellan (Camden rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Kirkham and $1,548 in Narellan. 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 Kirkham and Narellan?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,552 from Kirkham and $6,695 from Narellan to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Kirkham and $2,400 from Narellan.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kirkham and Narellan?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kirkham costs a cumulative $132,098 and Narellan costs $130,872 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,226 in favour of Narellan. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kirkham and Narellan suits you better?
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Sources: Camden rates (OLG and Camden 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.