Pymble vs Turramurra: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Pymble and Turramurra are both Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in suburbs, sitting 15.2 km and 16.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Pymble runs $656 a year cheaper than Turramurra, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,521.
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 →Pymble
Turramurra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Pymble | Turramurra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $2,189 | $2,189 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,302 | $4,658 | -$356 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,150 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,889 | $10,545 | -$656 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,973 | $8,273 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Pymble | Turramurra | 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 — Pymble vs Turramurra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Pymble costs $656 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,521 in favour of Pymble.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $356 per year. Turramurra is 16.9 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,973 from Pymble versus $8,273 from Turramurra.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $2,189 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Pymble by $356 a year, $4,302 against $4,658.
- Building insurance favours Pymble by $300 a year, $1,850 against $2,150.
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 Turramurra against low in Pymble, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Pymble cumulative | Turramurra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,889 | $10,545 | $656 |
| Year 3 | $30,566 | $32,594 | $2,028 |
| Year 5 | $52,502 | $55,985 | $3,483 |
| Year 10 | $113,366 | $120,887 | $7,521 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pymble or Turramurra cheaper to live in?
Pymble is cheaper to run by car at $9,889 per year versus $10,545 for Turramurra, a difference of $656 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Pymble and Turramurra?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,189 in Pymble (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) and $2,189 in Turramurra (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Pymble and $1,548 in Turramurra. 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 Pymble and Turramurra?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,302 from Pymble and $4,658 from Turramurra to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Pymble and $2,386 from Turramurra.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Pymble and Turramurra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Pymble costs a cumulative $113,366 and Turramurra costs $120,887 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,521 in favour of Pymble. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Pymble and Turramurra 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: Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in and Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in 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.