Living in a house in Waitara costs about $10,198 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Waitara sits 20.1 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $11,078, with the $2,300 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 20.1km from the CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $2,859. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
Cheaper to run than 88% of Hornsby 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 Waitara'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 Waitara
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Waitara, 173 m away, about a 2 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
The San Day Surgery, 921 m away, about a 12 minute walk.
Supermarkets
11
Cafes
31
Parks
44
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 Waitara to the CBD?
Public transport saves Waitara residents $2,859 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $5,259 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Waitara?
Waitara falls under Hornsby Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,541 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 $1,541 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Waitara?
Running a unit in Waitara costs approximately $11,078 per year by car or $8,219 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,541, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,300, and contents insurance of $430. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Waitara close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Waitara is Waitara, a train stop about 173 m away, about a 2 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 Waitara?
The closest hospital to the centre of Waitara is The San Day Surgery, about 921 m away, about a 12 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 Waitara?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Waitara there are 11 supermarkets, 31 cafes and 44 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: Hornsby 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.