McGraths Hill vs Pitt Town Bottoms, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
McGraths Hill and Pitt Town Bottoms are both Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in suburbs, sitting 44.4 km and 46.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Pitt Town Bottoms runs $329 a year cheaper than McGraths Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,772.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,800, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Pitt Town Bottoms
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | McGraths Hill | Pitt Town Bottoms | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,848 | $1,848 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,905 | $6,826 | +$79 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,100 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,651 | $12,322 | +$329 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,146 | $7,896 | +$250 |
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 | McGraths Hill | Pitt Town Bottoms | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, McGraths Hill vs Pitt Town Bottoms (2026-27)
What the numbers show
McGraths Hill and Pitt Town Bottoms differ by $329 a year by car, but $250 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 $79, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $250 per year. McGraths Hill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $8,146 from McGraths Hill versus $7,896 from Pitt Town Bottoms.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,848 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Pitt Town Bottoms by $79 a year, $6,826 against $6,905.
- Building insurance favours Pitt Town Bottoms by $250 a year, $2,100 against $2,350.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in McGraths Hill against low in Pitt Town Bottoms, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.7 in Pitt Town Bottoms against 4.6 in McGraths Hill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | McGraths Hill cumulative | Pitt Town Bottoms cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,651 | $12,322 | $329 |
| Year 3 | $39,103 | $38,086 | $1,017 |
| Year 5 | $67,166 | $65,419 | $1,747 |
| Year 10 | $145,030 | $141,258 | $3,772 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is McGraths Hill or Pitt Town Bottoms cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. McGraths Hill runs $12,651 a year by car and Pitt Town Bottoms $12,322, but most of the $329 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $79. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in McGraths Hill and Pitt Town Bottoms?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,848 in McGraths Hill (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in) and $1,848 in Pitt Town Bottoms (Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in McGraths Hill and $1,548 in Pitt Town Bottoms. 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 McGraths Hill and Pitt Town Bottoms?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,905 from McGraths Hill and $6,826 from Pitt Town Bottoms to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from McGraths Hill and $2,400 from Pitt Town Bottoms.
What is the 10-year cost difference between McGraths Hill and Pitt Town Bottoms?
At 3% annual cost growth, McGraths Hill costs a cumulative $145,030 and Pitt Town Bottoms costs $141,258 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,772 in favour of Pitt Town Bottoms. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of McGraths Hill and Pitt Town Bottoms suits you better?
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Sources: Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% in and Hawkesbury City Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 8.66% 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.