Melrose Park vs Wentworth Point, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Melrose Park (Ryde rates (OLG) and Wentworth Point (Parramatta rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (13.8 km and 12.9 km).
Wentworth Point runs $832 a year cheaper than Melrose Park, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,538.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,500, about $18 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wentworth Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Melrose Park | Wentworth Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,278 | $1,156 | +$122 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,991 | $3,781 | +$210 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,167 | $8,335 | +$832 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,562 | $6,940 | +$622 |
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 | Melrose Park | Wentworth Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,720 | -$378 |
| Unit | $1,909 | $2,209 | -$300 |
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, Melrose Park vs Wentworth Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Melrose Park and Wentworth Point differ by $832 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 $332, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Melrose Park carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $622 per year, $7,562 from Melrose Park versus $6,940 from Wentworth Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Wentworth Point by $122 a year, $1,156 against $1,278.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Wentworth Point by $210 a year, $3,781 against $3,991.
- Building insurance favours Wentworth Point 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 8.2 in Melrose Park against 7.1 in Wentworth Point, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Melrose Park cumulative | Wentworth Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,167 | $8,335 | $832 |
| Year 3 | $28,334 | $25,763 | $2,571 |
| Year 5 | $48,669 | $44,252 | $4,417 |
| Year 10 | $105,089 | $95,551 | $9,538 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Melrose Park or Wentworth Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Melrose Park runs $9,167 a year by car and Wentworth Point $8,335, but most of the $832 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $332. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Melrose Park and Wentworth Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,278 in Melrose Park (Ryde rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Wentworth Point (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Melrose Park and $1,548 in Wentworth Point. 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 Melrose Park and Wentworth Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,991 from Melrose Park and $3,781 from Wentworth Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Melrose Park and $2,386 from Wentworth Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Melrose Park costs a cumulative $105,089 and Wentworth Point costs $95,551 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,538 in favour of Wentworth Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Melrose Park and Wentworth Point suits you better?
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Sources: Ryde rates (OLG and Parramatta 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.