True annual cost of living in Paddington, NSW 2021
Living in a house in Paddington costs about $6,556 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Paddington sits 2.4 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $8,286, 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.
Cheaper to run than 100% of Woollahra 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 Paddington'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 Paddington
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Edgecliff, 808 m away, about a 10 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
St Vincent's Hospital, 801 m away, about a 10 minute walk.
Supermarkets
26
Cafes
255
Parks
112
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 Paddington to the CBD?
Driving saves Paddington residents $1,106 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $814 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Paddington?
Paddington falls under Woollahra Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,894 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 $1,894 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Paddington?
Running a unit in Paddington costs approximately $8,286 per year by car or $9,392 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,894, 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 Paddington close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Paddington is Edgecliff, a train stop about 808 m away, about a 10 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 Paddington?
The closest hospital to the centre of Paddington is St Vincent's Hospital, about 801 m away, about a 10 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 Paddington?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Paddington there are 26 supermarkets, 255 cafes and 112 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: Woollahra 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.