Living in a house in Northmead costs about $10,546 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Northmead sits 21.8 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $11,076, with the $2,300 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 21.8km from the CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $3,142. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
Cheaper to run than 22% of Parramatta suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,720/yr
6,060 kWh
Unit
$2,209/yr
4,545 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Northmead'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 Northmead
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Ngara, 1,981 m away, about a 25 minute walk. It is a light rail stop.
Nearest hospital
Cumberland Hospital (East Campus), 1,864 m away, about a 23 minute walk.
Supermarkets
2
Cafes
8
Parks
41
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 Northmead to the CBD?
Public transport saves Northmead residents $3,142 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $5,542 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Northmead?
Northmead falls under Parramatta Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,156 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 $1,156 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Northmead?
Running a unit in Northmead costs approximately $11,076 per year by car or $7,934 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,156, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,300, and contents insurance of $530. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Northmead close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Northmead is Ngara, a light rail stop about 1,981 m away, about a 25 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 Northmead?
The closest hospital to the centre of Northmead is Cumberland Hospital (East Campus), about 1,864 m away, about a 23 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 Northmead?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Northmead there are 2 supermarkets, 8 cafes and 41 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: Parramatta rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). 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.