Living in a house in Riverwood costs about $10,023 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Riverwood sits 17.0 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $10,653, with the $2,300 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 17.0km from the CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $2,292. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
About $193 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$10,653
Incl. body corporate
$888/month
About $205 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$630
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Georges River rates
$1,447
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Sydney Water
$1,548
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 17.0km from CBD · 192 days
$4,678
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire Low
$2,350
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,300
Total annual running cost
$10,023
($835/month, $193/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
↑ 8% above Georges River average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.9/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 80% of Georges River 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 Riverwood'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 Riverwood
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Riverwood, 218 m away, about a 3 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, 3,481 m away, about a 44 minute walk.
Supermarkets
5
Cafes
10
Parks
59
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.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Riverwood to the CBD?
Public transport saves Riverwood residents $2,292 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $4,678 versus $2,386 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Riverwood?
Riverwood falls under Georges River Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,447 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 $1,447 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Riverwood?
Running a unit in Riverwood costs approximately $10,653 per year by car or $8,361 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,447, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,300, and contents insurance of $680. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Riverwood close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Riverwood is Riverwood, a train stop about 218 m away, about a 3 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 Riverwood?
The closest hospital to the centre of Riverwood is Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, about 3,481 m away, about a 44 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 Riverwood?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Riverwood there are 5 supermarkets, 10 cafes and 59 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: Georges River 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.