Newtown vs St Peters, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Newtown and St Peters are both Inner West rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 4.6 km and 5.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Newtown runs $395 a year cheaper than St Peters, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,528.
Over 10 years, Newtown costs about $4,500 less to run than St Peters. That's about $9 a week.
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St Peters
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Newtown | St Peters | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,401 | $1,401 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,515 | $1,910 | -$395 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,500 | $2,600 | +$900 |
| Total (driving) | $6,314 | $6,709 | -$395 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,719 | $6,719 | - |
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 | Newtown | St Peters | 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, Newtown vs St Peters (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Newtown costs $395 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,528 in favour of Newtown.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $395 per year. St Peters is 5.9 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, $6,719 and $6,719 a year, so the $395 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,401 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Newtown by $395 a year, $1,515 against $1,910.
- 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.
Flood risk is rated high in St Peters against medium in Newtown, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.5 in Newtown against 8.5 in St Peters, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Newtown cumulative | St Peters cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,314 | $6,709 | $395 |
| Year 3 | $19,516 | $20,737 | $1,221 |
| Year 5 | $33,522 | $35,619 | $2,097 |
| Year 10 | $72,383 | $76,911 | $4,528 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Newtown or St Peters cheaper to live in?
Newtown is cheaper to run by car at $6,314 per year versus $6,709 for St Peters, a difference of $395 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Newtown and St Peters?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Newtown (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,401 in St Peters (Inner West rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Newtown and $1,548 in St Peters. 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 Newtown and St Peters?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,515 from Newtown and $1,910 from St Peters to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Newtown and $1,920 from St Peters.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Newtown and St Peters?
At 3% annual cost growth, Newtown costs a cumulative $72,383 and St Peters costs $76,911 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,528 in favour of Newtown. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Newtown and St Peters suits you better?
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Sources: Inner West rates (OLG and Inner West 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.