Moore Park vs Waterloo, 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 Waterloo are both Sydney rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3.2 km and 3.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Moore Park runs $447 a year cheaper than Waterloo, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,125.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,100, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Waterloo
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Moore Park | Waterloo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $924 | $924 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,073 | $1,170 | -$97 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,850 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,045 | $5,492 | -$447 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,892 | $6,242 | -$350 |
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 | Moore Park | Waterloo | 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 Waterloo (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Moore Park and Waterloo differ by $447 a year by car, but $350 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 $97, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Waterloo carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $5,892 from Moore Park versus $6,242 from Waterloo.
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 Moore Park by $97 a year, $1,073 against $1,170.
- Building insurance favours Moore Park by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Waterloo against low in Moore Park, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Moore Park cumulative | Waterloo cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,045 | $5,492 | $447 |
| Year 3 | $15,594 | $16,975 | $1,381 |
| Year 5 | $26,785 | $29,158 | $2,373 |
| Year 10 | $57,835 | $62,960 | $5,125 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moore Park or Waterloo cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Moore Park runs $5,045 a year by car and Waterloo $5,492, but most of the $447 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $97. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Moore Park and Waterloo?
Annual council rates for a house are $924 in Moore Park (Sydney rates (OLG) and $924 in Waterloo (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Moore Park and $1,548 in Waterloo. 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 Waterloo?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,073 from Moore Park and $1,170 from Waterloo to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Moore Park and $1,920 from Waterloo.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Moore Park and Waterloo?
At 3% annual cost growth, Moore Park costs a cumulative $57,835 and Waterloo costs $62,960 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,125 in favour of Moore Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Moore Park and Waterloo suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.