Allambie Heights vs Brookvale: 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 Brookvale are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 11.8 km and 13 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Allambie Heights runs $339 a year cheaper than Brookvale, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,886.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Allambie Heights
Brookvale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Allambie Heights | Brookvale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,515 | $3,804 | -$289 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,550 | $2,600 | -$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,300 | +$300 |
| Total (driving) | $9,379 | $9,718 | -$339 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,250 | $8,300 | -$50 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Allambie Heights | Brookvale | 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 Brookvale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Allambie Heights costs $339 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,886 in favour of Allambie Heights.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $289 per year. Brookvale is 13 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $8,250 and $8,300 a year, so the $339 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 $289 a year, $3,515 against $3,804.
- Building insurance favours Allambie Heights by $50 a year, $2,550 against $2,600.
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 medium in Brookvale against low in Allambie Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Allambie Heights against medium in Brookvale, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.5 in Allambie Heights against 7.9 in Brookvale, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Allambie Heights cumulative | Brookvale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,379 | $9,718 | $339 |
| Year 3 | $28,990 | $30,037 | $1,047 |
| Year 5 | $49,794 | $51,594 | $1,800 |
| Year 10 | $107,520 | $111,406 | $3,886 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Allambie Heights or Brookvale cheaper to live in?
Allambie Heights is cheaper to run by car at $9,379 per year versus $9,718 for Brookvale, a difference of $339 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 Brookvale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Allambie Heights (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Brookvale (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Allambie Heights and $1,548 in Brookvale. 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 Brookvale?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,515 from Allambie Heights and $3,804 from Brookvale to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Allambie Heights and $2,386 from Brookvale.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Allambie Heights and Brookvale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Allambie Heights costs a cumulative $107,520 and Brookvale costs $111,406 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,886 in favour of Allambie Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Allambie Heights and Brookvale is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.