Padstow vs Padstow 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
Padstow and Padstow Heights are both Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 18.7 km and 19.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Padstow runs $400 a year cheaper than Padstow Heights, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
Over 10 years, Padstow costs about $4,600 less to run than Padstow Heights. That's about $9 a week.
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Padstow Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Padstow | Padstow Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,007 | $5,207 | -$200 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,050 | $2,250 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,982 | $10,382 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,361 | $7,561 | -$200 |
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 | Padstow | Padstow 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, Padstow vs Padstow Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Padstow costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Padstow.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $200 per year. Padstow Heights is 19.8 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,361 from Padstow versus $7,561 from Padstow Heights.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Padstow by $200 a year, $5,007 against $5,207.
- Building insurance favours Padstow by $200 a year, $2,050 against $2,250.
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 Padstow Heights against low in Padstow, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Padstow cumulative | Padstow Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,982 | $10,382 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $30,853 | $32,090 | $1,237 |
| Year 5 | $52,996 | $55,119 | $2,123 |
| Year 10 | $114,432 | $119,018 | $4,586 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Padstow or Padstow Heights cheaper to live in?
Padstow is cheaper to run by car at $9,982 per year versus $10,382 for Padstow Heights, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Padstow and Padstow Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,377 in Padstow (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG) and $1,377 in Padstow Heights (Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Padstow and $1,548 in Padstow 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 Padstow and Padstow Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,007 from Padstow and $5,207 from Padstow Heights to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Padstow and $2,386 from Padstow Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Padstow and Padstow Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Padstow costs a cumulative $114,432 and Padstow Heights costs $119,018 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Padstow. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Padstow and Padstow Heights suits you better?
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Sources: Canterbury-Bankstown rates (OLG and Canterbury-Bankstown 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.