St Marys vs Werrington, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
St Marys and Werrington are both Penrith rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 43.1 km and 43.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Werrington runs $611 a year cheaper than St Marys, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,004.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,000, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Werrington
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | St Marys | Werrington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,604 | $1,604 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,947 | $6,936 | +$11 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,450 | $1,850 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,549 | $11,938 | +$611 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,002 | $7,402 | +$600 |
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 | St Marys | Werrington | 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, St Marys vs Werrington (2026-27)
What the numbers show
St Marys and Werrington differ by $611 a year by car, but $600 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 $11, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. St Marys carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $600 per year, $8,002 from St Marys versus $7,402 from Werrington.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,604 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Werrington by $11 a year, $6,936 against $6,947.
- Building insurance favours Werrington by $600 a year, $1,850 against $2,450.
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 St Marys against low in Werrington, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.1 in Werrington against 2.8 in St Marys, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | St Marys cumulative | Werrington cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,549 | $11,938 | $611 |
| Year 3 | $38,788 | $36,899 | $1,889 |
| Year 5 | $66,624 | $63,380 | $3,244 |
| Year 10 | $143,860 | $136,856 | $7,004 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Marys or Werrington cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. St Marys runs $12,549 a year by car and Werrington $11,938, but most of the $611 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $11. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in St Marys and Werrington?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,604 in St Marys (Penrith rates (OLG) and $1,604 in Werrington (Penrith rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in St Marys and $1,548 in Werrington. 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 St Marys and Werrington?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,947 from St Marys and $6,936 from Werrington to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from St Marys and $2,400 from Werrington.
What is the 10-year cost difference between St Marys and Werrington?
At 3% annual cost growth, St Marys costs a cumulative $143,860 and Werrington costs $136,856 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,004 in favour of Werrington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of St Marys and Werrington suits you better?
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Sources: Penrith rates (OLG and Penrith 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.