Russell Lea vs Wareemba, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Russell Lea and Wareemba are both Canada Bay rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6.5 km and 7.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Russell Lea runs $574 a year cheaper than Wareemba, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,580.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,600, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wareemba
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Russell Lea | Wareemba | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,268 | $1,268 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,087 | $2,261 | -$174 |
| 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) | $6,353 | $6,927 | -$574 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,186 | $6,586 | -$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 | Russell Lea | Wareemba | 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, Russell Lea vs Wareemba (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Russell Lea and Wareemba differ by $574 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 $174, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Wareemba carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $6,186 from Russell Lea versus $6,586 from Wareemba.
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 Russell Lea by $174 a year, $2,087 against $2,261.
- Building insurance favours Russell Lea 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.
Flood risk is rated high in Wareemba against medium in Russell Lea, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Russell Lea cumulative | Wareemba cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,353 | $6,927 | $574 |
| Year 3 | $19,636 | $21,411 | $1,775 |
| Year 5 | $33,729 | $36,776 | $3,047 |
| Year 10 | $72,830 | $79,410 | $6,580 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Russell Lea or Wareemba cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Russell Lea runs $6,353 a year by car and Wareemba $6,927, but most of the $574 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $174. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Russell Lea and Wareemba?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,268 in Russell Lea (Canada Bay rates (OLG) and $1,268 in Wareemba (Canada Bay rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Russell Lea and $1,548 in Wareemba. 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 Russell Lea and Wareemba?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,087 from Russell Lea and $2,261 from Wareemba to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Russell Lea and $1,920 from Wareemba.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Russell Lea and Wareemba?
At 3% annual cost growth, Russell Lea costs a cumulative $72,830 and Wareemba costs $79,410 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,580 in favour of Russell Lea. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Russell Lea and Wareemba suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.