Kurrajong 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 and The Slopes are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 62.5 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 runs $350 a year cheaper than The Slopes, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,012.
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
The Slopes
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kurrajong | The Slopes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,778 | $5,378 | -$600 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,150 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $2,100 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $10,574 | $10,924 | -$350 |
| 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 | 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 vs The Slopes (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kurrajong costs $350 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,012 in favour of Kurrajong.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $600 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, $8,196 from Kurrajong 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 by $600 a year, $4,778 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 against medium in The Slopes, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kurrajong cumulative | The Slopes cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,574 | $10,924 | $350 |
| Year 3 | $32,683 | $33,765 | $1,082 |
| Year 5 | $56,139 | $57,997 | $1,858 |
| Year 10 | $121,219 | $125,231 | $4,012 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kurrajong or The Slopes cheaper to live in?
Kurrajong is cheaper to run by car at $10,574 per year versus $10,924 for The Slopes, a difference of $350 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kurrajong and The Slopes?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in Kurrajong (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 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 and The Slopes?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,778 from Kurrajong and $5,378 from The Slopes to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Kurrajong and $2,400 from The Slopes.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kurrajong and The Slopes?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kurrajong costs a cumulative $121,219 and The Slopes costs $125,231 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,012 in favour of Kurrajong. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kurrajong 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.