Paddington vs Rushcutters Bay, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Paddington (Woollahra rates (OLG) and Rushcutters Bay (Sydney rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (2.4 km and 1.9 km).
Rushcutters Bay runs $636 a year cheaper than Paddington, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,291.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,300, about $14 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rushcutters Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Paddington | Rushcutters Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,894 | $924 | +$970 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $814 | $648 | +$166 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,350 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,106 | $5,470 | +$636 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,212 | $6,742 | +$470 |
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 | Paddington | Rushcutters Bay | 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, Paddington vs Rushcutters Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Paddington and Rushcutters Bay differ by $636 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 $1,136, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $970 per year.
On public transport the gap is $470 per year, $7,212 from Paddington versus $6,742 from Rushcutters Bay.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Rushcutters Bay by $970 a year, $924 against $1,894.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Rushcutters Bay by $166 a year, $648 against $814.
- Building insurance favours Paddington by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 high in Rushcutters Bay against medium in Paddington, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Paddington cumulative | Rushcutters Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,106 | $5,470 | $636 |
| Year 3 | $18,873 | $16,907 | $1,966 |
| Year 5 | $32,418 | $29,041 | $3,377 |
| Year 10 | $69,998 | $62,707 | $7,291 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paddington or Rushcutters Bay cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Paddington runs $6,106 a year by car and Rushcutters Bay $5,470, but most of the $636 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $1,136. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Paddington and Rushcutters Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,894 in Paddington (Woollahra rates (OLG) and $924 in Rushcutters Bay (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Paddington and $1,548 in Rushcutters Bay. 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 Paddington and Rushcutters Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $814 from Paddington and $648 from Rushcutters Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Paddington and $1,920 from Rushcutters Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Paddington and Rushcutters Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Paddington costs a cumulative $69,998 and Rushcutters Bay costs $62,707 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,291 in favour of Rushcutters Bay. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Paddington and Rushcutters Bay suits you better?
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Sources: Woollahra 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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.