Living in a house in Sydenham costs about $6,915 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Sydenham sits 6.6 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $8,345, with the $2,600 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $196 per year at this distance.
About $133 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$8,345
Incl. body corporate
$695/month
About $160 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$1,430
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Inner West rates
$1,401
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Sydney Water
$1,548
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 6.6km from CBD · 192 days
$2,116
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire Low
$1,850
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,600
Total annual running cost
$6,915
($576/month, $133/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
↑ 7% above Inner West average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.4/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 96% of Inner West 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 Sydenham'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 Sydenham
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Sydenham, 265 m away, about a 3 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Royal Rehab Private Petersham, 2,232 m away, about a 28 minute walk.
Supermarkets
18
Cafes
88
Parks
66
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 Sydenham to the CBD?
Public transport saves Sydenham residents $196 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $2,116 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Sydenham?
Sydenham falls under Inner West Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,401 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 $1,401 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Sydenham?
Running a unit in Sydenham costs approximately $8,345 per year by car or $8,149 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,401, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,600, and contents insurance of $680. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Sydenham close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Sydenham is Sydenham, a train stop about 265 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 Sydenham?
The closest hospital to the centre of Sydenham is Royal Rehab Private Petersham, about 2,232 m away, about a 28 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 Sydenham?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Sydenham there are 18 supermarkets, 88 cafes and 66 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: Inner West 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.