Living in a house in The Rocks costs about $5,936 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. The Rocks sits 1.2 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $7,166, 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.
Sydney rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$924
Water & sewerage
Sydney Water 2026-27
$1,548
Driving commute
ATO 91c/km · 1.2km from CBD · 192 days
$514
Home insurance
Estimated · flood High · fire Low
$2,950
Body corporate
Estimated
$3,500
Total annual running cost
$5,936
($495/month)
Near Sydney average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○5.2/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 52% of Sydney 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 The Rocks'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 The Rocks
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Circular Quay 6B, 298 m away, about a 4 minute walk. It is a ferry stop.
Nearest hospital
Sydney Hospital, 1,199 m away, about a 15 minute walk.
Supermarkets
24
Cafes
285
Parks
127
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 The Rocks to the CBD?
Driving saves The Rocks residents $1,406 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $514 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in The Rocks?
The Rocks 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 The Rocks?
Running a unit in The Rocks costs approximately $7,166 per year by car or $8,572 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 $680. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is The Rocks close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of The Rocks is Circular Quay 6B, a ferry stop about 298 m away, about a 4 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 The Rocks?
The closest hospital to the centre of The Rocks is Sydney Hospital, about 1,199 m away, about a 15 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 The Rocks?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of The Rocks there are 24 supermarkets, 285 cafes and 127 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: Sydney 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.