Millers Point vs The Rocks: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Millers Point and The Rocks are both Sydney rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 1.1 km and 1.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Millers Point runs $682 a year cheaper than The Rocks, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,818.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Millers Point
The Rocks
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Millers Point | The Rocks | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $924 | $924 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $367 | $399 | -$32 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,950 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,139 | $5,821 | -$682 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,692 | $7,342 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Millers Point | The Rocks | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,148 | $2,148 | - |
| Unit | $1,716 | $1,716 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Millers Point vs The Rocks (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Millers Point costs $682 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,818 in favour of Millers Point.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. The Rocks carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $6,692 from Millers Point versus $7,342 from The Rocks.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Millers Point cumulative | The Rocks cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,139 | $5,821 | $682 |
| Year 3 | $15,884 | $17,992 | $2,108 |
| Year 5 | $27,284 | $30,904 | $3,620 |
| Year 10 | $58,913 | $66,731 | $7,818 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Millers Point or The Rocks cheaper to live in?
Millers Point is cheaper to run by car at $5,139 per year versus $5,821 for The Rocks, a difference of $682 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Millers Point and The Rocks?
Annual council rates for a house are $924 in Millers Point (Sydney rates (OLG) and $924 in The Rocks (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Millers Point and $1,548 in The Rocks. 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 Millers Point and The Rocks?
Annual driving commute costs are $367 from Millers Point and $399 from The Rocks to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Millers Point and $1,920 from The Rocks.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Millers Point and The Rocks?
At 3% annual cost growth, Millers Point costs a cumulative $58,913 and The Rocks costs $66,731 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,818 in favour of Millers Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Millers Point and The Rocks is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Sydney rates (OLG and Sydney rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.