Allambie Heights vs Beacon Hill, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Allambie Heights and Beacon Hill are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 11.8 km and 13.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $24 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 these two cost about the same to run.
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Beacon Hill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Allambie Heights | Beacon Hill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,515 | $3,991 | -$476 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,350 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,300 | +$300 |
| Total (driving) | $8,679 | $8,655 | +$24 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,550 | $7,050 | +$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 | Allambie Heights | Beacon Hill | 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, Allambie Heights vs Beacon Hill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Allambie Heights and Beacon Hill cost within $24 of each other annually by car. Over ten years with 3% annual growth the gap reaches roughly $275, making running cost a minor factor in the decision.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,550 from Allambie Heights versus $7,050 from Beacon Hill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,766 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Allambie Heights by $476 a year, $3,515 against $3,991.
- Building insurance favours Beacon Hill by $500 a year, $1,350 against $1,850.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Allambie Heights against low in Beacon Hill, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.5 in Allambie Heights against 8.5 in Beacon Hill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Allambie Heights cumulative | Beacon Hill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,679 | $8,655 | $24 |
| Year 3 | $26,826 | $26,752 | $74 |
| Year 5 | $46,078 | $45,951 | $127 |
| Year 10 | $99,495 | $99,220 | $275 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Allambie Heights or Beacon Hill cheaper to live in?
Beacon Hill is cheaper to run by car at $8,655 per year versus $8,679 for Allambie Heights, a difference of $24 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Allambie Heights and Beacon Hill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Allambie Heights (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Beacon Hill (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Allambie Heights and $1,548 in Beacon Hill. 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 Allambie Heights and Beacon Hill?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,515 from Allambie Heights and $3,991 from Beacon Hill to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Allambie Heights and $2,386 from Beacon Hill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Allambie Heights and Beacon Hill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Allambie Heights costs a cumulative $99,495 and Beacon Hill costs $99,220 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $275 in favour of Beacon Hill. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Allambie Heights and Beacon Hill suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Northern Beaches rates (OLG and Northern Beaches 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.