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 $311 a year cheaper than St Marys, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,565.
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 →St Marys
Werrington
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | St Marys | Werrington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,604 | $1,604 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,947 | $6,936 | +$11 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,600 | $2,300 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,699 | $12,388 | +$311 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,152 | $7,852 | +$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 | 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
Werrington costs $311 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,565 in favour of Werrington.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. St Marys carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,152 from St Marys versus $7,852 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 $300 a year, $2,300 against $2,600.
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 | $12,699 | $12,388 | $311 |
| Year 3 | $39,251 | $38,290 | $961 |
| Year 5 | $67,421 | $65,770 | $1,651 |
| Year 10 | $145,580 | $142,015 | $3,565 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Marys or Werrington cheaper to live in?
Werrington is cheaper to run by car at $12,388 per year versus $12,699 for St Marys, a difference of $311 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $145,580 and Werrington costs $142,015 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,565 in favour of Werrington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of St Marys and Werrington 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.