Linley Point vs Riverview, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Linley Point and Riverview are both Lane Cove rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 7.2 km and 6.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Riverview runs $735 a year cheaper than Linley Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,426.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,400, about $16 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Riverview
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Linley Point | Riverview | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,502 | $1,502 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,289 | $2,204 | +$85 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,950 | $2,300 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,289 | $7,554 | +$735 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,920 | $7,270 | +$650 |
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 | Linley Point | Riverview | 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, Linley Point vs Riverview (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Linley Point and Riverview differ by $735 a year by car, but $650 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 $85, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Linley Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,920 from Linley Point versus $7,270 from Riverview.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,502 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Riverview by $85 a year, $2,204 against $2,289.
- Building insurance favours Riverview by $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
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 high in Linley Point against medium in Riverview, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Linley Point cumulative | Riverview cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,289 | $7,554 | $735 |
| Year 3 | $25,620 | $23,349 | $2,271 |
| Year 5 | $44,007 | $40,105 | $3,902 |
| Year 10 | $95,024 | $86,598 | $8,426 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Linley Point or Riverview cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Linley Point runs $8,289 a year by car and Riverview $7,554, but most of the $735 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $85. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Linley Point and Riverview?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,502 in Linley Point (Lane Cove rates (OLG) and $1,502 in Riverview (Lane Cove rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Linley Point and $1,548 in Riverview. 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 Linley Point and Riverview?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,289 from Linley Point and $2,204 from Riverview to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Linley Point and $1,920 from Riverview.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Linley Point and Riverview?
At 3% annual cost growth, Linley Point costs a cumulative $95,024 and Riverview costs $86,598 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,426 in favour of Riverview. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Linley Point and Riverview suits you better?
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Sources: Lane Cove rates (OLG and Lane Cove 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.