Lakemba vs Roselands, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lakemba and Roselands are both Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 13.5 km and 14.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $101 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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Roselands
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lakemba | Roselands | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,921 | $4,170 | -$249 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,696 | $8,595 | +$101 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,161 | $6,811 | +$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 | Lakemba | Roselands | 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, Lakemba vs Roselands (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lakemba and Roselands differ by $101 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 $249, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Lakemba carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,161 from Lakemba versus $6,811 from Roselands.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lakemba by $249 a year, $3,921 against $4,170.
- Building insurance favours Roselands 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 commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Lakemba against low in Roselands, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.8 in Roselands against 5.2 in Lakemba, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lakemba cumulative | Roselands cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,696 | $8,595 | $101 |
| Year 3 | $26,878 | $26,566 | $312 |
| Year 5 | $46,168 | $45,632 | $536 |
| Year 10 | $99,690 | $98,532 | $1,158 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lakemba or Roselands cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Lakemba runs $8,696 a year by car and Roselands $8,595, but most of the $101 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $249. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lakemba and Roselands?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,377 in Lakemba (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Roselands (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Lakemba and $1,548 in Roselands. 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 Lakemba and Roselands?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,921 from Lakemba and $4,170 from Roselands to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Lakemba and $2,386 from Roselands.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lakemba and Roselands?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lakemba costs a cumulative $99,690 and Roselands costs $98,532 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,158 in favour of Roselands. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lakemba and Roselands suits you better?
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Sources: Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG and Canterbury-Bankstown 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.