Peakhurst vs Riverwood: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Peakhurst and Riverwood are both Georges River rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 17.3 km and 17 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Peakhurst runs $590 a year cheaper than Riverwood, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,764.
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 →Peakhurst
Riverwood
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Peakhurst | Riverwood | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,447 | $1,447 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,738 | $4,678 | +$60 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,950 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,033 | $10,623 | -$590 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,681 | $8,331 | -$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 | Peakhurst | Riverwood | 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 — Peakhurst vs Riverwood (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Peakhurst costs $590 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,764 in favour of Peakhurst.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Riverwood carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,681 from Peakhurst versus $8,331 from Riverwood.
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 Riverwood by $60 a year, $4,678 against $4,738.
- Building insurance favours Peakhurst 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 Riverwood against medium in Peakhurst, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.1 in Peakhurst against 5 in Riverwood, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Peakhurst cumulative | Riverwood cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,033 | $10,623 | $590 |
| Year 3 | $31,011 | $32,835 | $1,824 |
| Year 5 | $53,267 | $56,399 | $3,132 |
| Year 10 | $115,017 | $121,781 | $6,764 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Peakhurst or Riverwood cheaper to live in?
Peakhurst is cheaper to run by car at $10,033 per year versus $10,623 for Riverwood, a difference of $590 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Peakhurst and Riverwood?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,447 in Peakhurst (Georges River rates (OLG) and $1,447 in Riverwood (Georges River rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Peakhurst and $1,548 in Riverwood. 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 Peakhurst and Riverwood?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,738 from Peakhurst and $4,678 from Riverwood to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Peakhurst and $2,386 from Riverwood.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Peakhurst and Riverwood?
At 3% annual cost growth, Peakhurst costs a cumulative $115,017 and Riverwood costs $121,781 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,764 in favour of Peakhurst. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Peakhurst and Riverwood 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.