Oatley vs Peakhurst Heights, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Oatley and Peakhurst Heights are both Georges River rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 18 km and 18.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Peakhurst Heights runs $387 a year cheaper than Oatley, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,437.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,400, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Peakhurst Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Oatley | Peakhurst Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,447 | $1,447 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,875 | $4,988 | -$113 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,220 | $9,833 | +$387 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,731 | $7,231 | +$500 |
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 | Oatley | Peakhurst Heights | 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, Oatley vs Peakhurst Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Oatley and Peakhurst Heights differ by $387 a year by car, but $500 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 $113, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Oatley carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,731 from Oatley versus $7,231 from Peakhurst Heights.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,447 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Oatley by $113 a year, $4,875 against $4,988.
- Building insurance favours Peakhurst Heights by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 high in Oatley against medium in Peakhurst Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.3 in Oatley against 7.5 in Peakhurst Heights, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Oatley cumulative | Peakhurst Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,220 | $9,833 | $387 |
| Year 3 | $31,589 | $30,393 | $1,196 |
| Year 5 | $54,259 | $52,205 | $2,054 |
| Year 10 | $117,161 | $112,724 | $4,437 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oatley or Peakhurst Heights cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Oatley runs $10,220 a year by car and Peakhurst Heights $9,833, but most of the $387 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $113. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Oatley and Peakhurst Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,447 in Oatley (Georges River rates (OLG) and $1,447 in Peakhurst Heights (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Oatley and $1,548 in Peakhurst Heights. 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 Oatley and Peakhurst Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,875 from Oatley and $4,988 from Peakhurst Heights to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Oatley and $2,386 from Peakhurst Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Oatley and Peakhurst Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Oatley costs a cumulative $117,161 and Peakhurst Heights costs $112,724 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,437 in favour of Peakhurst Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Oatley and Peakhurst Heights suits you better?
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Sources: Georges River 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.