Aroona vs Dicky Beach, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Aroona and Dicky Beach are both Sunshine Coast Council suburbs, sitting 14.6 km and 15.3 km from Maroochydore CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Dicky Beach runs $696 a year cheaper than Aroona, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,979.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $8,000, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Dicky Beach
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Aroona | Dicky Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,771 | $1,771 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $2,094 | $2,094 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,170 | $4,324 | -$154 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,550 | $1,700 | +$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,200 | $2,200 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,585 | $9,889 | +$696 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,607 | $5,757 | +$850 |
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: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Aroona | Dicky Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
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, Aroona vs Dicky Beach (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Aroona and Dicky Beach differ by $696 a year by car, but $850 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 $154, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $850 per year.
On public transport the gap is $850 per year, $6,607 from Aroona versus $5,757 from Dicky Beach.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,771 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $2,094 a year.
- Driving commute favours Aroona by $154 a year, $4,170 against $4,324.
- Building insurance favours Dicky Beach by $850 a year, $1,700 against $2,550.
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 Aroona against medium in Dicky Beach, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Aroona cumulative | Dicky Beach cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,585 | $9,889 | $696 |
| Year 3 | $32,717 | $30,566 | $2,151 |
| Year 5 | $56,197 | $52,502 | $3,695 |
| Year 10 | $121,345 | $113,366 | $7,979 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aroona or Dicky Beach cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Aroona runs $10,585 a year by car and Dicky Beach $9,889, but most of the $696 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $154. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Aroona and Dicky Beach?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,771 in Aroona (Sunshine Coast Council) and $1,771 in Dicky Beach (Sunshine Coast Council). Water and sewerage adds $2,094 in Aroona and $2,094 in Dicky Beach. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Aroona and Dicky Beach?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,170 from Aroona and $4,324 from Dicky Beach to Maroochydore CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Aroona and $192 from Dicky Beach.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Aroona and Dicky Beach?
At 3% annual cost growth, Aroona costs a cumulative $121,345 and Dicky Beach costs $113,366 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,979 in favour of Dicky Beach. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Aroona and Dicky Beach suits you better?
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Sources: Sunshine Coast Council and Sunshine Coast Council 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.