Kurrajong Hills vs The Slopes: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kurrajong Hills and The Slopes are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 62.8 km and 59.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Kurrajong Hills runs $409 a year cheaper than The Slopes, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,688.
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 →Kurrajong Hills
The Slopes
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kurrajong Hills | The Slopes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,719 | $5,378 | -$659 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,150 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $2,100 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $10,515 | $10,924 | -$409 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,196 | $7,946 | +$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 | Kurrajong Hills | The Slopes | 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 — Kurrajong Hills vs The Slopes (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kurrajong Hills costs $409 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,688 in favour of Kurrajong Hills.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $659 per year. Kurrajong Hills is 62.8 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, $8,196 from Kurrajong Hills versus $7,946 from The Slopes.
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 Hills by $659 a year, $4,719 against $5,378.
- Building insurance favours The Slopes 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 Hills against medium in The Slopes, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kurrajong Hills cumulative | The Slopes cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,515 | $10,924 | $409 |
| Year 3 | $32,501 | $33,765 | $1,264 |
| Year 5 | $55,826 | $57,997 | $2,171 |
| Year 10 | $120,543 | $125,231 | $4,688 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kurrajong Hills or The Slopes cheaper to live in?
Kurrajong Hills is cheaper to run by car at $10,515 per year versus $10,924 for The Slopes, a difference of $409 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kurrajong Hills and The Slopes?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Kurrajong Hills (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in The Slopes (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Kurrajong Hills and $1,548 in The Slopes. 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 Kurrajong Hills and The Slopes?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,719 from Kurrajong Hills and $5,378 from The Slopes to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Kurrajong Hills and $2,400 from The Slopes.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kurrajong Hills and The Slopes?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kurrajong Hills costs a cumulative $120,543 and The Slopes costs $125,231 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,688 in favour of Kurrajong Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kurrajong Hills and The Slopes 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.