Petersham vs Stanmore, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Petersham and Stanmore are both Inner West rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 5.8 km and 4.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Stanmore runs $303 a year cheaper than Petersham, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,474.
Over 10 years, Stanmore costs about $3,500 less to run than Petersham. That's about $7 a week.
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Stanmore
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Petersham | Stanmore | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,401 | $1,401 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,880 | $1,577 | +$303 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,450 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $3,500 | -$900 |
| Total (driving) | $6,279 | $5,976 | +$303 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,319 | $6,319 | - |
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 | Petersham | Stanmore | 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, Petersham vs Stanmore (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Stanmore costs $303 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,474 in favour of Stanmore.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $303 per year. Petersham is 5.8 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,319 and $6,319 a year, so the $303 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,401 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Stanmore by $303 a year, $1,577 against $1,880.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,450 a year.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Petersham cumulative | Stanmore cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,279 | $5,976 | $303 |
| Year 3 | $19,408 | $18,471 | $937 |
| Year 5 | $33,336 | $31,727 | $1,609 |
| Year 10 | $71,982 | $68,508 | $3,474 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Petersham or Stanmore cheaper to live in?
Stanmore is cheaper to run by car at $5,976 per year versus $6,279 for Petersham, a difference of $303 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Petersham and Stanmore?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Petersham (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,401 in Stanmore (Inner West rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Petersham and $1,548 in Stanmore. 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 Petersham and Stanmore?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,880 from Petersham and $1,577 from Stanmore to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Petersham and $1,920 from Stanmore.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Petersham and Stanmore?
At 3% annual cost growth, Petersham costs a cumulative $71,982 and Stanmore costs $68,508 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,474 in favour of Stanmore. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Petersham and Stanmore suits you better?
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Sources: Inner West rates (OLG and Inner West 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.