Meadowbank vs Rhodes, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Meadowbank (Ryde rates (OLG) and Rhodes (Canada Bay rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (12.5 km and 11.9 km).
Rhodes runs $656 a year cheaper than Meadowbank, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,520.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,500, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rhodes
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Meadowbank | Rhodes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,278 | $1,268 | +$10 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,686 | $3,540 | +$146 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,600 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $8,862 | $8,206 | +$656 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,562 | $7,052 | +$510 |
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 | Meadowbank | Rhodes | 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, Meadowbank vs Rhodes (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Meadowbank and Rhodes differ by $656 a year by car, but $500 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 $156, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Meadowbank carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $510 per year, $7,562 from Meadowbank versus $7,052 from Rhodes.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Rhodes by $10 a year, $1,268 against $1,278.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Rhodes by $146 a year, $3,540 against $3,686.
- Building insurance favours Rhodes by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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.
The catchment state school scores 8.4 in Meadowbank against 7.1 in Rhodes, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Meadowbank cumulative | Rhodes cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,862 | $8,206 | $656 |
| Year 3 | $27,392 | $25,364 | $2,028 |
| Year 5 | $47,050 | $43,567 | $3,483 |
| Year 10 | $101,593 | $94,073 | $7,520 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Meadowbank or Rhodes cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Meadowbank runs $8,862 a year by car and Rhodes $8,206, but most of the $656 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $156. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Meadowbank and Rhodes?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,278 in Meadowbank (Ryde rates (OLG) and $1,268 in Rhodes (Canada Bay rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Meadowbank and $1,548 in Rhodes. 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 Meadowbank and Rhodes?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,686 from Meadowbank and $3,540 from Rhodes to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Meadowbank and $2,386 from Rhodes.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Meadowbank and Rhodes?
At 3% annual cost growth, Meadowbank costs a cumulative $101,593 and Rhodes costs $94,073 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,520 in favour of Rhodes. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Meadowbank and Rhodes suits you better?
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Sources: Ryde rates (OLG and Canada Bay 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.