Belrose vs Frenchs Forest: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Belrose and Frenchs Forest are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 15.7 km and 13.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Frenchs Forest runs $934 a year cheaper than Belrose, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,707.
Over 10 years, Frenchs Forest costs about $10,700 less to run than Belrose — the same as paying $10,700 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
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Frenchs Forest
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Belrose | Frenchs Forest | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,409 | $3,875 | +$534 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,550 | $2,150 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,273 | $9,339 | +$934 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,250 | $7,850 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Belrose | Frenchs Forest | 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 — Belrose vs Frenchs Forest (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Frenchs Forest costs $934 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $10,707 in favour of Frenchs Forest.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $534 per year. Belrose is 15.7 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,250 from Belrose versus $7,850 from Frenchs Forest.
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 Frenchs Forest by $534 a year, $3,875 against $4,409.
- Building insurance favours Frenchs Forest by $400 a year, $2,150 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 Belrose against medium in Frenchs Forest, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Belrose cumulative | Frenchs Forest cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,273 | $9,339 | $934 |
| Year 3 | $31,753 | $28,866 | $2,887 |
| Year 5 | $54,541 | $49,582 | $4,959 |
| Year 10 | $117,768 | $107,061 | $10,707 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Belrose or Frenchs Forest cheaper to live in?
Frenchs Forest is cheaper to run by car at $9,339 per year versus $10,273 for Belrose, a difference of $934 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Belrose and Frenchs Forest?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Belrose (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Frenchs Forest (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Belrose and $1,548 in Frenchs Forest. 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 Belrose and Frenchs Forest?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,409 from Belrose and $3,875 from Frenchs Forest to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Belrose and $2,386 from Frenchs Forest.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Belrose and Frenchs Forest?
At 3% annual cost growth, Belrose costs a cumulative $117,768 and Frenchs Forest costs $107,061 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,707 in favour of Frenchs Forest. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Belrose and Frenchs Forest 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.