Bexley vs Rockdale: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bexley and Rockdale are both Bayside rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 12.3 km and 11.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bexley runs $854 a year cheaper than Rockdale, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,790.
Over 10 years, Bexley costs about $9,800 less to run than Rockdale — the same as paying $9,800 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Bexley
Rockdale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bexley | Rockdale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,265 | $1,265 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,637 | $3,391 | +$246 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,950 | -$1,100 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,600 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $8,300 | $9,154 | -$854 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,049 | $8,149 | -$1,100 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bexley | Rockdale | 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 — Bexley vs Rockdale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bexley costs $854 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,790 in favour of Bexley.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,100 per year. Rockdale carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,100 per year, $7,049 from Bexley versus $8,149 from Rockdale.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,265 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Rockdale by $246 a year, $3,391 against $3,637.
- Building insurance favours Bexley by $1,100 a year, $1,850 against $2,950.
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 high in Rockdale against low in Bexley, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.3 in Rockdale against 6.1 in Bexley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bexley cumulative | Rockdale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,300 | $9,154 | $854 |
| Year 3 | $25,654 | $28,294 | $2,640 |
| Year 5 | $44,066 | $48,600 | $4,534 |
| Year 10 | $95,150 | $104,940 | $9,790 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bexley or Rockdale cheaper to live in?
Bexley is cheaper to run by car at $8,300 per year versus $9,154 for Rockdale, a difference of $854 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bexley and Rockdale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,265 in Bexley (Bayside rates (OLG) and $1,265 in Rockdale (Bayside rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bexley and $1,548 in Rockdale. 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 Bexley and Rockdale?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,637 from Bexley and $3,391 from Rockdale to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Bexley and $2,386 from Rockdale.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bexley and Rockdale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bexley costs a cumulative $95,150 and Rockdale costs $104,940 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,790 in favour of Bexley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bexley and Rockdale 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: Bayside rates (OLG and Bayside 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.