Alfords Point vs Menai, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Alfords Point and Menai are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 21.1 km and 23.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $101 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $1,200, about $2 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Menai
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Alfords Point | Menai | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,429 | $5,828 | -$399 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,944 | $10,843 | +$101 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,915 | $7,415 | +$500 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Alfords Point | Menai | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Alfords Point vs Menai (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Alfords Point and Menai differ by $101 a year by car, but $500 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $399, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Alfords Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,915 from Alfords Point versus $7,415 from Menai.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,617 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Alfords Point by $399 a year, $5,429 against $5,828.
- Building insurance favours Menai by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Alfords Point against low in Menai, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Menai against medium in Alfords Point, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Alfords Point cumulative | Menai cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,944 | $10,843 | $101 |
| Year 3 | $33,827 | $33,515 | $312 |
| Year 5 | $58,103 | $57,567 | $536 |
| Year 10 | $125,461 | $124,303 | $1,158 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alfords Point or Menai cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Alfords Point runs $10,944 a year by car and Menai $10,843, but most of the $101 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $399. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Alfords Point and Menai?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Alfords Point (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Menai (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Alfords Point and $1,548 in Menai. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Alfords Point and Menai?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,429 from Alfords Point and $5,828 from Menai to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Alfords Point and $2,400 from Menai.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Alfords Point and Menai?
At 3% annual cost growth, Alfords Point costs a cumulative $125,461 and Menai costs $124,303 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,158 in favour of Menai. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Alfords Point and Menai suits you better?
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Sources: Sutherland rates (OLG and Sutherland rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.