Lewisham vs Petersham, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lewisham and Petersham are both Inner West rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6.6 km and 5.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Petersham runs $636 a year cheaper than Lewisham, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,291.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,300, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Petersham
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lewisham | Petersham | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,401 | $1,401 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,116 | $1,880 | +$236 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,450 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,915 | $6,279 | +$636 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,719 | $6,319 | +$400 |
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 | Lewisham | Petersham | 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, Lewisham vs Petersham (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lewisham and Petersham differ by $636 a year by car, but $400 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 $236, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Lewisham carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $6,719 from Lewisham versus $6,319 from Petersham.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,401 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Petersham by $236 a year, $1,880 against $2,116.
- Building insurance favours Petersham by $400 a year, $1,450 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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lewisham cumulative | Petersham cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,915 | $6,279 | $636 |
| Year 3 | $21,374 | $19,408 | $1,966 |
| Year 5 | $36,713 | $33,336 | $3,377 |
| Year 10 | $79,273 | $71,982 | $7,291 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lewisham or Petersham cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Lewisham runs $6,915 a year by car and Petersham $6,279, but most of the $636 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $236. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lewisham and Petersham?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Lewisham (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,401 in Petersham (Inner West rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Lewisham and $1,548 in Petersham. 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 Lewisham and Petersham?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,116 from Lewisham and $1,880 from Petersham to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Lewisham and $1,920 from Petersham.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lewisham and Petersham?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lewisham costs a cumulative $79,273 and Petersham costs $71,982 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,291 in favour of Petersham. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lewisham and Petersham suits you better?
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Sources: Inner West rates (OLG and Inner West 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.