Newtown 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
Newtown (Inner West rates (OLG) and Surry Hills (Sydney rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (4.6 km and 1.9 km).
Surry Hills runs $1,794 a year cheaper than Newtown, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $20,567.
Over 10 years, Surry Hills costs about $20,600 less to run than Newtown — the same as paying $20,600 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
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Surry Hills
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Newtown | Surry Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,401 | $924 | +$477 |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,515 | $648 | +$867 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,764 | $4,970 | +$1,794 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,169 | $6,242 | +$927 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Newtown | 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 — Newtown vs Surry Hills (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Surry Hills costs $1,794 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $20,567 in favour of Surry Hills.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $867 per year. Newtown is 4.6 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $927 per year, $7,169 from Newtown versus $6,242 from Surry Hills.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Surry Hills by $477 a year, $924 against $1,401.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Surry Hills by $867 a year, $648 against $1,515.
- Building insurance favours Surry Hills by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
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 medium in Newtown against low in Surry Hills, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.5 in Newtown against 8.4 in Surry Hills, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Newtown cumulative | Surry Hills cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,764 | $4,970 | $1,794 |
| Year 3 | $20,907 | $15,362 | $5,545 |
| Year 5 | $35,911 | $26,386 | $9,525 |
| Year 10 | $77,542 | $56,975 | $20,567 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Newtown or Surry Hills cheaper to live in?
Surry Hills is cheaper to run by car at $4,970 per year versus $6,764 for Newtown, a difference of $1,794 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Newtown and Surry Hills?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Newtown (Inner West rates (OLG) and $924 in Surry Hills (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Newtown 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 Newtown and Surry Hills?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,515 from Newtown and $648 from Surry Hills to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Newtown and $1,920 from Surry Hills.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Newtown and Surry Hills?
At 3% annual cost growth, Newtown costs a cumulative $77,542 and Surry Hills costs $56,975 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $20,567 in favour of Surry Hills. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Newtown 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: Inner West 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.