True annual cost of living in East Killara, NSW 2071
Living in a house in East Killara costs about $10,470 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. East Killara sits 12.7 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs come in at $10,460, as lower council rates more than offset the $2,300 body corporate levy. Switching from driving to public transport saves $1,347 per year at this distance.
Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in 2026-27) · average rate
$2,189
Water & sewerage
Sydney Water 2026-27
$1,548
Driving commute
ATO 91c/km · 12.7km from CBD · 192 days
$3,733
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Medium · fire High
$3,000
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,300
Total annual running cost
$10,470
($873/month)
Near Ku-ring-gai Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.0/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 41% of Ku-ring-gai Council 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 East Killara'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 East Killara
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Killara, 2,364 m away, about a 30 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Gordon Private Hospital, 2,978 m away, about a 37 minute walk.
Supermarkets
2
Cafes
3
Parks
22
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-08-07. 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.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from East Killara to the CBD?
Public transport saves East Killara residents $1,347 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $3,733 versus $2,386 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in East Killara?
East Killara falls under Ku-ring-gai Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $2,189 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 $2,189 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in East Killara?
Running a unit in East Killara costs approximately $10,460 per year by car or $9,113 by public transport. This includes council rates of $2,189, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,300, and contents insurance of $690. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is East Killara close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of East Killara is Killara, a train stop about 2,364 m away, about a 30 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 East Killara?
The closest hospital to the centre of East Killara is Gordon Private Hospital, about 2,978 m away, about a 37 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 East Killara?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of East Killara there are 2 supermarkets, 3 cafes and 22 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: Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in 2026-27). Water: Sydney Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.