Kurmond vs Kurrajong: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kurmond and Kurrajong are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 58.9 km and 62.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Kurrajong runs $401 a year cheaper than Kurmond, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,597.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Kurmond
Kurrajong
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kurmond | Kurrajong | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,429 | $4,778 | +$651 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,150 | $2,400 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $1,800 | +$300 |
| Total (driving) | $10,975 | $10,574 | +$401 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,946 | $8,196 | -$250 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Kurmond | Kurrajong | 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 — Kurmond vs Kurrajong (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kurrajong costs $401 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,597 in favour of Kurrajong.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $651 per year. Kurrajong is 62.5 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,946 from Kurmond versus $8,196 from Kurrajong.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kurrajong by $651 a year, $4,778 against $5,429.
- Building insurance favours Kurmond by $250 a year, $2,150 against $2,400.
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 high in Kurrajong against medium in Kurmond, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kurmond cumulative | Kurrajong cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,975 | $10,574 | $401 |
| Year 3 | $33,923 | $32,683 | $1,240 |
| Year 5 | $58,268 | $56,139 | $2,129 |
| Year 10 | $125,816 | $121,219 | $4,597 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kurmond or Kurrajong cheaper to live in?
Kurrajong is cheaper to run by car at $10,574 per year versus $10,975 for Kurmond, a difference of $401 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kurmond and Kurrajong?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Kurmond (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Kurrajong (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Kurmond and $1,548 in Kurrajong. 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 Kurmond and Kurrajong?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,429 from Kurmond and $4,778 from Kurrajong to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Kurmond and $2,400 from Kurrajong.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kurmond and Kurrajong?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kurmond costs a cumulative $125,816 and Kurrajong costs $121,219 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,597 in favour of Kurrajong. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kurmond and Kurrajong is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.