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4.1 km from CBD
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True annual cost of living in Erskineville, NSW 2043

Living in a house in Erskineville costs about $6,086 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Erskineville sits 4.1 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $7,816, 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 88c/km, AER electricity benchmarks

3 key insights
Costs 6% more to run than the Sydney average, cheaper than only 22% of suburbs in the region.
Home insurance is the biggest expense at $2,300, roughly 38% of the annual total.
Switching from driving to public transport saves $606 a year.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
Lower cost
House annual cost
$6,086
Driving · per year
$507/month
Unit annual cost
$7,816
Incl. body corporate
$651/month
House vs unit difference
+$1,730
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Sydney rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$924
Water & sewerage
Sydney Water 2026-27
$1,548
Driving commute
ATO 88c/km · 4.1km from CBD · 192 days
$1,314
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Medium · fire Low
$2,300
Total annual running cost
$6,086
($507/month)
↑ 6% above Sydney average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○ 4.9/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 22% of Sydney suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost typical 2-person household
House
$2,148/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,716/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Erskineville's climate zone at 2025 rates. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Compare Erskineville with another suburb
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Erskineville to the CBD?
Driving saves Erskineville residents $606 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $1,314 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Erskineville?
Erskineville 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 Erskineville?
Running a unit in Erskineville costs approximately $7,816 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.

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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 2025–26 (88c/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.