North Parramatta vs Oatlands, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
North Parramatta and Oatlands are both Parramatta rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 20.5 km and 18.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Oatlands runs $627 a year cheaper than North Parramatta, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,188.
Over 10 years, Oatlands costs about $7,200 less to run than North Parramatta. That's about $14 a week.
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Oatlands
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | North Parramatta | Oatlands | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,328 | $4,951 | +$377 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,386 | +$14 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $1,850 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,132 | $9,505 | +$627 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,204 | $6,940 | +$264 |
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 | North Parramatta | Oatlands | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, North Parramatta vs Oatlands (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Oatlands costs $627 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,188 in favour of Oatlands.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $377 per year. North Parramatta is 20.5 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $264 per year, $7,204 from North Parramatta versus $6,940 from Oatlands.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,156 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Oatlands by $377 a year, $4,951 against $5,328.
- Building insurance favours Oatlands by $250 a year, $1,850 against $2,100.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in North Parramatta against low in Oatlands, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.1 in North Parramatta against 7.8 in Oatlands, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | North Parramatta cumulative | Oatlands cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,132 | $9,505 | $627 |
| Year 3 | $31,317 | $29,379 | $1,938 |
| Year 5 | $53,792 | $50,463 | $3,329 |
| Year 10 | $116,152 | $108,964 | $7,188 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is North Parramatta or Oatlands cheaper to live in?
Oatlands is cheaper to run by car at $9,505 per year versus $10,132 for North Parramatta, a difference of $627 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in North Parramatta and Oatlands?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in North Parramatta (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Oatlands (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in North Parramatta and $1,548 in Oatlands. 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 North Parramatta and Oatlands?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,328 from North Parramatta and $4,951 from Oatlands to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from North Parramatta and $2,386 from Oatlands.
What is the 10-year cost difference between North Parramatta and Oatlands?
At 3% annual cost growth, North Parramatta costs a cumulative $116,152 and Oatlands costs $108,964 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,188 in favour of Oatlands. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of North Parramatta and Oatlands suits you better?
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Sources: Parramatta rates (OLG and Parramatta 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.