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 $537 a year cheaper than Oatley, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,156.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Oatley
Peakhurst Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Oatley | Peakhurst Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,447 | $1,447 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,875 | $4,988 | -$113 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $2,300 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,820 | $10,283 | +$537 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,331 | $7,681 | +$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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
Peakhurst Heights costs $537 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,156 in favour of Peakhurst Heights.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Oatley carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,331 from Oatley versus $7,681 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 $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
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 | $10,820 | $10,283 | $537 |
| Year 3 | $33,444 | $31,784 | $1,660 |
| Year 5 | $57,445 | $54,594 | $2,851 |
| Year 10 | $124,039 | $117,883 | $6,156 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oatley or Peakhurst Heights cheaper to live in?
Peakhurst Heights is cheaper to run by car at $10,283 per year versus $10,820 for Oatley, a difference of $537 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $124,039 and Peakhurst Heights costs $117,883 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,156 in favour of Peakhurst Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Oatley and Peakhurst Heights 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.