Bellevue Hill vs Woollahra, 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 and Woollahra are both Woollahra rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 4.2 km and 3.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Woollahra runs $476 a year cheaper than Bellevue Hill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,457.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,500, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Woollahra
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bellevue Hill | Woollahra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,894 | $1,894 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,391 | $1,265 | +$126 |
| 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 | $6,207 | +$476 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,212 | $6,862 | +$350 |
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 | Woollahra | 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 Woollahra (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bellevue Hill and Woollahra differ by $476 a year by car, but $350 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 $126, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Bellevue Hill carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,212 from Bellevue Hill versus $6,862 from Woollahra.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,894 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Woollahra by $126 a year, $1,265 against $1,391.
- Building insurance favours Woollahra by $350 a year, $1,500 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.
Flood risk is rated medium in Bellevue Hill against low in Woollahra, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bellevue Hill cumulative | Woollahra cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,683 | $6,207 | $476 |
| Year 3 | $20,656 | $19,185 | $1,471 |
| Year 5 | $35,481 | $32,954 | $2,527 |
| Year 10 | $76,613 | $71,156 | $5,457 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bellevue Hill or Woollahra cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bellevue Hill runs $6,683 a year by car and Woollahra $6,207, but most of the $476 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $126. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bellevue Hill and Woollahra?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,894 in Bellevue Hill (Woollahra rates (OLG) and $1,894 in Woollahra (Woollahra rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bellevue Hill and $1,548 in Woollahra. 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 Woollahra?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,391 from Bellevue Hill and $1,265 from Woollahra to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Bellevue Hill and $1,920 from Woollahra.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bellevue Hill and Woollahra?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bellevue Hill costs a cumulative $76,613 and Woollahra costs $71,156 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,457 in favour of Woollahra. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bellevue Hill and Woollahra suits you better?
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Sources: Woollahra rates (OLG and Woollahra 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.