North Rocks vs Northmead, 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 Rocks and Northmead are both Parramatta rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21 km and 21.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $280 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,200, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Northmead
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | North Rocks | Northmead | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,412 | $5,542 | -$130 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,700 | $1,850 | -$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,816 | $10,096 | -$280 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,804 | $6,954 | -$150 |
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 Rocks | Northmead | 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 Rocks vs Northmead (2026-27)
What the numbers show
North Rocks and Northmead differ by $280 a year by car, but $150 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 $130, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $150 per year. Northmead carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,804 and $6,954 a year, so the $280 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 North Rocks by $130 a year, $5,412 against $5,542.
- Building insurance favours North Rocks by $150 a year, $1,700 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 Northmead against low in North Rocks, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in North Rocks against low in Northmead, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.4 in North Rocks against 8.1 in Northmead, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | North Rocks cumulative | Northmead cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,816 | $10,096 | $280 |
| Year 3 | $30,340 | $31,206 | $866 |
| Year 5 | $52,114 | $53,601 | $1,487 |
| Year 10 | $112,529 | $115,739 | $3,210 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is North Rocks or Northmead cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. North Rocks runs $9,816 a year by car and Northmead $10,096, but most of the $280 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $130. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in North Rocks and Northmead?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in North Rocks (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Northmead (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in North Rocks and $1,548 in Northmead. 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 Rocks and Northmead?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,412 from North Rocks and $5,542 from Northmead to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from North Rocks and $2,400 from Northmead.
What is the 10-year cost difference between North Rocks and Northmead?
At 3% annual cost growth, North Rocks costs a cumulative $112,529 and Northmead costs $115,739 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,210 in favour of North Rocks. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of North Rocks and Northmead 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.