Marsfield vs South Turramurra, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Marsfield (Ryde rates (OLG) and South Turramurra (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (14.6 km and 16.1 km).
Marsfield runs $1,735 a year cheaper than South Turramurra, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $19,890.
Over 10 years, Marsfield costs about $19,900 less to run than South Turramurra. That's about $38 a week.
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South Turramurra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Marsfield | South Turramurra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,278 | $2,189 | -$911 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,170 | $4,494 | -$324 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,700 | $2,200 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,696 | $10,431 | -$1,735 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,912 | $8,323 | -$1,411 |
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 | Marsfield | South Turramurra | 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, Marsfield vs South Turramurra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Marsfield costs $1,735 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $19,890 in favour of Marsfield.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $911 per year.
On public transport the gap is $1,411 per year, $6,912 from Marsfield versus $8,323 from South Turramurra.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Marsfield by $911 a year, $1,278 against $2,189.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Marsfield by $324 a year, $4,170 against $4,494.
- Building insurance favours Marsfield by $500 a year, $1,700 against $2,200.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Fire risk is rated high in South Turramurra against medium in Marsfield, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 10 in South Turramurra against 9 in Marsfield, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Marsfield cumulative | South Turramurra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,696 | $10,431 | $1,735 |
| Year 3 | $26,878 | $32,241 | $5,363 |
| Year 5 | $46,168 | $55,380 | $9,212 |
| Year 10 | $99,690 | $119,580 | $19,890 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marsfield or South Turramurra cheaper to live in?
Marsfield is cheaper to run by car at $8,696 per year versus $10,431 for South Turramurra, a difference of $1,735 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Marsfield and South Turramurra?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,278 in Marsfield (Ryde rates (OLG) and $2,189 in South Turramurra (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Marsfield and $1,548 in South Turramurra. 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 Marsfield and South Turramurra?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,170 from Marsfield and $4,494 from South Turramurra to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Marsfield and $2,386 from South Turramurra.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Marsfield and South Turramurra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Marsfield costs a cumulative $99,690 and South Turramurra costs $119,580 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $19,890 in favour of Marsfield. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Marsfield and South Turramurra suits you better?
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Sources: Ryde rates (OLG and Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in 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.