Balgowlah vs Clontarf, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Balgowlah and Clontarf are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 9.5 km and 8.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $131 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 $1,500, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Clontarf
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Balgowlah | Clontarf | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,925 | $2,544 | +$381 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,850 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,839 | $7,708 | +$131 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,834 | $7,084 | -$250 |
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 | Balgowlah | Clontarf | 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, Balgowlah vs Clontarf (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Balgowlah and Clontarf differ by $131 a year by car, but $250 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 $381, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $381 per year. Balgowlah is 9.5 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $6,834 from Balgowlah versus $7,084 from Clontarf.
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 Clontarf by $381 a year, $2,544 against $2,925.
- Building insurance favours Balgowlah by $250 a year, $1,600 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 medium in Clontarf against low in Balgowlah, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Balgowlah cumulative | Clontarf cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,839 | $7,708 | $131 |
| Year 3 | $24,230 | $23,825 | $405 |
| Year 5 | $41,618 | $40,923 | $695 |
| Year 10 | $89,865 | $88,364 | $1,501 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balgowlah or Clontarf cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Balgowlah runs $7,839 a year by car and Clontarf $7,708, but most of the $131 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $381. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Balgowlah and Clontarf?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Balgowlah (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Clontarf (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Balgowlah and $1,548 in Clontarf. 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 Balgowlah and Clontarf?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,925 from Balgowlah and $2,544 from Clontarf to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Balgowlah and $1,920 from Clontarf.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Balgowlah and Clontarf?
At 3% annual cost growth, Balgowlah costs a cumulative $89,865 and Clontarf costs $88,364 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,501 in favour of Clontarf. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Balgowlah and Clontarf suits you better?
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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.