Rodd Point vs Russell Lea: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Rodd Point and Russell Lea are both Canada Bay rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 5.9 km and 6.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Russell Lea runs $473 a year cheaper than Rodd Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,423.
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 →Rodd Point
Russell Lea
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Rodd Point | Russell Lea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,268 | $1,268 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,910 | $2,087 | -$177 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $2,300 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,676 | $7,203 | +$473 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,686 | $7,036 | +$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 | Rodd Point | Russell Lea | 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 — Rodd Point vs Russell Lea (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Russell Lea costs $473 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,423 in favour of Russell Lea.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Rodd Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,686 from Rodd Point versus $7,036 from Russell Lea.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,268 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Rodd Point by $177 a year, $1,910 against $2,087.
- Building insurance favours Russell Lea 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 Rodd Point against medium in Russell Lea, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Rodd Point cumulative | Russell Lea cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,676 | $7,203 | $473 |
| Year 3 | $23,726 | $22,264 | $1,462 |
| Year 5 | $40,753 | $38,242 | $2,511 |
| Year 10 | $87,997 | $82,574 | $5,423 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rodd Point or Russell Lea cheaper to live in?
Russell Lea is cheaper to run by car at $7,203 per year versus $7,676 for Rodd Point, a difference of $473 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Rodd Point and Russell Lea?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,268 in Rodd Point (Canada Bay rates (OLG) and $1,268 in Russell Lea (Canada Bay rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Rodd Point and $1,548 in Russell Lea. 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 Rodd Point and Russell Lea?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,910 from Rodd Point and $2,087 from Russell Lea to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Rodd Point and $1,920 from Russell Lea.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Rodd Point and Russell Lea?
At 3% annual cost growth, Rodd Point costs a cumulative $87,997 and Russell Lea costs $82,574 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,423 in favour of Russell Lea. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Rodd Point and Russell Lea 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: Canada Bay rates (OLG and Canada Bay 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.