Mortdale vs Penshurst, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Mortdale and Penshurst are both Georges River rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 16.9 km and 15.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Penshurst runs $641 a year cheaper than Mortdale, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,348.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,300, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Penshurst
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Mortdale | Penshurst | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,447 | $1,447 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,658 | $4,367 | +$291 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,503 | $8,862 | +$641 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,231 | $6,881 | +$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 | Mortdale | Penshurst | 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, Mortdale vs Penshurst (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Mortdale and Penshurst differ by $641 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 $291, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Mortdale carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,231 from Mortdale versus $6,881 from Penshurst.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,447 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Penshurst by $291 a year, $4,367 against $4,658.
- Building insurance favours Penshurst 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 Mortdale against low in Penshurst, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Mortdale cumulative | Penshurst cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,503 | $8,862 | $641 |
| Year 3 | $29,373 | $27,392 | $1,981 |
| Year 5 | $50,453 | $47,050 | $3,403 |
| Year 10 | $108,941 | $101,593 | $7,348 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mortdale or Penshurst cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Mortdale runs $9,503 a year by car and Penshurst $8,862, but most of the $641 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $291. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Mortdale and Penshurst?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,447 in Mortdale (Georges River rates (OLG) and $1,447 in Penshurst (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Mortdale and $1,548 in Penshurst. 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 Mortdale and Penshurst?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,658 from Mortdale and $4,367 from Penshurst to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Mortdale and $2,386 from Penshurst.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Mortdale and Penshurst?
At 3% annual cost growth, Mortdale costs a cumulative $108,941 and Penshurst costs $101,593 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,348 in favour of Penshurst. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Mortdale and Penshurst suits you better?
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Sources: Georges River rates (OLG and Georges River 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.