Moore Park vs Surry Hills: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Moore Park and Surry Hills are both Sydney rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3.2 km and 1.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Surry Hills runs $425 a year cheaper than Moore Park, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,873.
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 →Moore Park
Surry Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Moore Park | Surry Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $924 | $924 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,073 | $648 | +$425 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,395 | $4,970 | +$425 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,242 | $6,242 | - |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Moore Park | Surry Hills | 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 — Moore Park vs Surry Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Surry Hills costs $425 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,873 in favour of Surry Hills.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $425 per year. Moore Park is 3.2 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,242 and $6,242 a year, so the $425 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $924 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Surry Hills by $425 a year, $648 against $1,073.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,850 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 9.4 in Moore Park against 8.4 in Surry Hills, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Moore Park cumulative | Surry Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,395 | $4,970 | $425 |
| Year 3 | $16,675 | $15,362 | $1,313 |
| Year 5 | $28,643 | $26,386 | $2,257 |
| Year 10 | $61,848 | $56,975 | $4,873 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moore Park or Surry Hills cheaper to live in?
Surry Hills is cheaper to run by car at $4,970 per year versus $5,395 for Moore Park, a difference of $425 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Moore Park and Surry Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $924 in Moore Park (Sydney rates (OLG) and $924 in Surry Hills (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Moore Park and $1,548 in Surry Hills. 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 Moore Park and Surry Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,073 from Moore Park and $648 from Surry Hills to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Moore Park and $1,920 from Surry Hills.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Moore Park and Surry Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Moore Park costs a cumulative $61,848 and Surry Hills costs $56,975 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,873 in favour of Surry Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Moore Park and Surry Hills 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 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.