Parramatta vs Rosehill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Parramatta and Rosehill are both Parramatta rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.2 km and 17.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $139 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 $1,600, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Rosehill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Parramatta | Rosehill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,099 | $4,738 | +$361 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,350 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,653 | $9,792 | -$139 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,940 | $7,440 | -$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 | Parramatta | Rosehill | 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, Parramatta vs Rosehill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Parramatta and Rosehill differ by $139 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 $361, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Rosehill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $6,940 from Parramatta versus $7,440 from Rosehill.
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 Rosehill by $361 a year, $4,738 against $5,099.
- Building insurance favours Parramatta 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 Rosehill against medium in Parramatta, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.4 in Parramatta against 7.7 in Rosehill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Parramatta cumulative | Rosehill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,653 | $9,792 | $139 |
| Year 3 | $29,836 | $30,266 | $430 |
| Year 5 | $51,249 | $51,987 | $738 |
| Year 10 | $110,661 | $112,254 | $1,593 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Parramatta or Rosehill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Parramatta runs $9,653 a year by car and Rosehill $9,792, but most of the $139 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $361. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Parramatta and Rosehill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in Parramatta (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Rosehill (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Parramatta and $1,548 in Rosehill. 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 Parramatta and Rosehill?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,099 from Parramatta and $4,738 from Rosehill to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Parramatta and $2,386 from Rosehill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Parramatta and Rosehill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Parramatta costs a cumulative $110,661 and Rosehill costs $112,254 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,593 in favour of Parramatta. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Parramatta and Rosehill 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.