Narwee vs Riverwood, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Narwee (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and Riverwood (Georges River rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (15.6 km and 17 km).
Narwee runs $1,209 a year cheaper than Riverwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $13,859.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $13,900, about $27 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Riverwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Narwee | Riverwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,447 | -$70 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,389 | $4,678 | -$289 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $2,350 | -$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,814 | $10,023 | -$1,209 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,811 | $7,731 | -$920 |
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 | Narwee | Riverwood | 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, Narwee vs Riverwood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Narwee and Riverwood differ by $1,209 a year by car, but $850 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 $359, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $850 per year. Riverwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $920 per year, $6,811 from Narwee versus $7,731 from Riverwood.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Narwee by $70 a year, $1,377 against $1,447.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Narwee by $289 a year, $4,389 against $4,678.
- Building insurance favours Narwee by $850 a year, $1,500 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.
Flood risk is rated high in Riverwood against low in Narwee, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6 in Narwee against 5 in Riverwood, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Narwee cumulative | Riverwood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,814 | $10,023 | $1,209 |
| Year 3 | $27,243 | $30,980 | $3,737 |
| Year 5 | $46,795 | $53,213 | $6,418 |
| Year 10 | $101,043 | $114,902 | $13,859 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Narwee or Riverwood cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Narwee runs $8,814 a year by car and Riverwood $10,023, but most of the $1,209 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $359. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Narwee and Riverwood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,377 in Narwee (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and $1,447 in Riverwood (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Narwee and $1,548 in Riverwood. 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 Narwee and Riverwood?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,389 from Narwee and $4,678 from Riverwood to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Narwee and $2,386 from Riverwood.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Narwee and Riverwood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Narwee costs a cumulative $101,043 and Riverwood costs $114,902 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $13,859 in favour of Narwee. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Narwee and Riverwood suits you better?
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Sources: Canterbury-Bankstown 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.