Matraville vs Port Botany, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Matraville and Port Botany are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 10.5 km and 11.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Matraville runs $453 a year cheaper than Port Botany, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,193.
Over 10 years, Matraville costs about $5,200 less to run than Port Botany. That's about $10 a week.
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Port Botany
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Matraville | Port Botany | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,187 | $3,440 | -$253 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,050 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,308 | $8,761 | -$453 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,507 | $7,707 | -$200 |
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 | Matraville | Port Botany | 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, Matraville vs Port Botany (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Matraville costs $453 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,193 in favour of Matraville.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $253 per year. Port Botany is 11.5 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,507 from Matraville versus $7,707 from Port Botany.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,723 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Matraville by $253 a year, $3,187 against $3,440.
- Building insurance favours Matraville by $200 a year, $1,850 against $2,050.
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 Port Botany against medium in Matraville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Matraville cumulative | Port Botany cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,308 | $8,761 | $453 |
| Year 3 | $25,679 | $27,079 | $1,400 |
| Year 5 | $44,108 | $46,513 | $2,405 |
| Year 10 | $95,242 | $100,435 | $5,193 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Matraville or Port Botany cheaper to live in?
Matraville is cheaper to run by car at $8,308 per year versus $8,761 for Port Botany, a difference of $453 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Matraville and Port Botany?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Matraville (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in Port Botany (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Matraville and $1,548 in Port Botany. 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 Matraville and Port Botany?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,187 from Matraville and $3,440 from Port Botany to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Matraville and $2,386 from Port Botany.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Matraville and Port Botany?
At 3% annual cost growth, Matraville costs a cumulative $95,242 and Port Botany costs $100,435 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,193 in favour of Matraville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Matraville and Port Botany suits you better?
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Sources: Randwick rates (OLG and Randwick 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.