Rosehill vs Silverwater, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Rosehill and Silverwater are both Parramatta rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 17.3 km and 15.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Silverwater runs $849 a year cheaper than Rosehill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,733.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,700, about $19 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Silverwater
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Rosehill | Silverwater | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,156 | $1,156 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,738 | $4,389 | +$349 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,792 | $8,943 | +$849 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,440 | $6,940 | +$500 |
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 | Rosehill | Silverwater | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, Rosehill vs Silverwater (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Rosehill and Silverwater differ by $849 a year by car, but $500 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 $349, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Rosehill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,440 from Rosehill versus $6,940 from Silverwater.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,156 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Silverwater by $349 a year, $4,389 against $4,738.
- Building insurance favours Silverwater by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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.
The catchment state school scores 7.7 in Rosehill against 6.4 in Silverwater, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Rosehill cumulative | Silverwater cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,792 | $8,943 | $849 |
| Year 3 | $30,266 | $27,642 | $2,624 |
| Year 5 | $51,987 | $47,480 | $4,507 |
| Year 10 | $112,254 | $102,521 | $9,733 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rosehill or Silverwater cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Rosehill runs $9,792 a year by car and Silverwater $8,943, but most of the $849 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $349. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Rosehill and Silverwater?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,156 in Rosehill (Parramatta rates (OLG) and $1,156 in Silverwater (Parramatta rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Rosehill and $1,548 in Silverwater. 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 Rosehill and Silverwater?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,738 from Rosehill and $4,389 from Silverwater to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Rosehill and $2,386 from Silverwater.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Rosehill and Silverwater?
At 3% annual cost growth, Rosehill costs a cumulative $112,254 and Silverwater costs $102,521 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,733 in favour of Silverwater. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Rosehill and Silverwater suits you better?
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Sources: Parramatta rates (OLG and Parramatta 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.