Bellevue Hill vs Bondi Junction, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bellevue Hill (Woollahra rates (OLG) and Bondi Junction (Waverley rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (4.2 km and 4.6 km).
Bondi Junction runs $776 a year cheaper than Bellevue Hill, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,896.
Over 10 years, Bondi Junction costs about $8,900 less to run than Bellevue Hill. That's about $17 a week.
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Bondi Junction
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bellevue Hill | Bondi Junction | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,894 | $1,344 | +$550 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,391 | $1,515 | -$124 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,683 | $5,907 | +$776 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,212 | $6,312 | +$900 |
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 | Bellevue Hill | Bondi Junction | 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, Bellevue Hill vs Bondi Junction (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bondi Junction costs $776 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,896 in favour of Bondi Junction.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $550 per year.
On public transport the gap is $900 per year, $7,212 from Bellevue Hill versus $6,312 from Bondi Junction.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Bondi Junction by $550 a year, $1,344 against $1,894.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bellevue Hill by $124 a year, $1,391 against $1,515.
- Building insurance favours Bondi Junction by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Flood risk is rated medium in Bellevue Hill against low in Bondi Junction, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bellevue Hill cumulative | Bondi Junction cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,683 | $5,907 | $776 |
| Year 3 | $20,656 | $18,258 | $2,398 |
| Year 5 | $35,481 | $31,361 | $4,120 |
| Year 10 | $76,613 | $67,717 | $8,896 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bellevue Hill or Bondi Junction cheaper to live in?
Bondi Junction is cheaper to run by car at $5,907 per year versus $6,683 for Bellevue Hill, a difference of $776 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bellevue Hill and Bondi Junction?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,894 in Bellevue Hill (Woollahra rates (OLG) and $1,344 in Bondi Junction (Waverley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bellevue Hill and $1,548 in Bondi Junction. 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 Bellevue Hill and Bondi Junction?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,391 from Bellevue Hill and $1,515 from Bondi Junction to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Bellevue Hill and $1,920 from Bondi Junction.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bellevue Hill and Bondi Junction?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bellevue Hill costs a cumulative $76,613 and Bondi Junction costs $67,717 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,896 in favour of Bondi Junction. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bellevue Hill and Bondi Junction suits you better?
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Sources: Woollahra rates (OLG and Waverley 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.