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Map of Darlington
2.8 km from CBD
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True annual cost of living in Darlington, NSW 2008

Living in a house in Darlington costs about $5,266 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Darlington sits 2.8 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $7,446, with the $3,500 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Transport mode has the biggest effect on total cost in a suburb this close to the city.

Last updated July 2026 · Sydney Council rates 2026-27, ATO 91c/km, AER electricity benchmarks

3 key insights

Running costs sit near the Sydney average, cheaper than 100% of suburbs in the region.
Home insurance is the biggest expense at $1,850, roughly 35% of the annual total.
Switching from driving to public transport saves $976 a year.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
Lower cost
House annual cost
$5,266
Driving · per year
$439/month
About $101 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$7,446
Incl. body corporate
$621/month
About $143 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$2,180
Unit costs more per year

Annual cost breakdown

Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Sydney rates
$924
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Sydney Water
$1,548
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 2.8km from CBD · 192 days
$944
Home insurance
Estimated flood Medium · fire Low
$1,850
Total annual running cost
$5,266
($439/month, $101/week)

Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.

Near Sydney average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○ 8.1/10 Excellent
Cheaper to run than 100% of Sydney suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).

Estimated electricity cost

typical 2-person household
House
$2,342/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,909/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Darlington's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for its electricity network. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.

Getting around Darlington

within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Redfern, 418 m away, about a 5 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Women and Babies Services, 1,028 m away, about a 13 minute walk.
Supermarkets
55
Cafes
356
Parks
211
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-11-03. Distances are straight line from that centre, so a specific address can be closer or further. Mapping is contributed and can lag a new opening.

Compare Darlington with another suburb

Frequently asked questions about Darlington

Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Darlington to the CBD?

Driving saves Darlington residents $976 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $944 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.

What are the council rates in Darlington?

Darlington falls under Sydney Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $924 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $924 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.

What does it cost to run a unit in Darlington?

Running a unit in Darlington costs approximately $7,446 per year by car or $8,422 by public transport. This includes council rates of $924, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $3,500, and contents insurance of $530. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.

Is Darlington close to public transport?

The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Darlington is Redfern, a train stop about 418 m away, about a 5 minute walk. That is measured from the suburb centre, so an individual address can be nearer or further. The commute figure used in the running cost on this page assumes driving, not this service.

What is the closest hospital to Darlington?

The closest hospital to the centre of Darlington is Women and Babies Services, about 1,028 m away, about a 13 minute walk. Distance is straight line from the suburb centre and does not account for the road route or whether the hospital has an emergency department.

What shops and parks are in Darlington?

Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Darlington there are 55 supermarkets, 356 cafes and 211 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.

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Data sources: Council rates: Sydney rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Sydney Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: estimated from ACCC 2026 premium rates for the area's cyclone risk on a standard $600,000 home, adjusted for flood and fire, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data last verified September 2026.
Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.