Petersham vs Summer Hill, 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 Summer Hill are both Inner West rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 5.8 km and 7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Petersham runs $752 a year cheaper than Summer Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,621.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,600, about $17 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Summer Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Petersham | Summer Hill | 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 | $2,232 | -$352 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,279 | $7,031 | -$752 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,319 | $6,719 | -$400 |
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 | Summer Hill | 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 Summer Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Petersham and Summer Hill differ by $752 a year by car, but $400 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 $352, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Summer Hill carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $6,319 from Petersham versus $6,719 from Summer Hill.
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 Petersham by $352 a year, $1,880 against $2,232.
- Building insurance favours Petersham by $400 a year, $1,450 against $1,850.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Petersham cumulative | Summer Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,279 | $7,031 | $752 |
| Year 3 | $19,408 | $21,732 | $2,324 |
| Year 5 | $33,336 | $37,329 | $3,993 |
| Year 10 | $71,982 | $80,603 | $8,621 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Petersham or Summer Hill cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Petersham runs $6,279 a year by car and Summer Hill $7,031, but most of the $752 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $352. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Petersham and Summer Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Petersham (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,401 in Summer Hill (Inner West rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Petersham and $1,548 in Summer Hill. 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 Summer Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,880 from Petersham and $2,232 from Summer Hill to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Petersham and $1,920 from Summer Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Petersham and Summer Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Petersham costs a cumulative $71,982 and Summer Hill costs $80,603 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,621 in favour of Petersham. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Petersham and Summer Hill 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.