Bilgola Beach vs Clareville, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bilgola Beach and Clareville are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 27.3 km and 27.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $117 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 $1,300, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Clareville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bilgola Beach | Clareville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,284 | $6,317 | -$33 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,450 | +$150 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,198 | $11,081 | +$117 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,314 | $7,164 | +$150 |
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 | Bilgola Beach | Clareville | 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, Bilgola Beach vs Clareville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bilgola Beach and Clareville differ by $117 a year by car, but $150 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 $33, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $150 per year. Bilgola Beach carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,314 and $7,164 a year, so the $117 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Bilgola Beach by $33 a year, $6,284 against $6,317.
- Building insurance favours Clareville by $150 a year, $1,450 against $1,600.
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 Bilgola Beach against low in Clareville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bilgola Beach cumulative | Clareville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,198 | $11,081 | $117 |
| Year 3 | $34,612 | $34,250 | $362 |
| Year 5 | $59,452 | $58,831 | $621 |
| Year 10 | $128,373 | $127,031 | $1,342 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bilgola Beach or Clareville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bilgola Beach runs $11,198 a year by car and Clareville $11,081, but most of the $117 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $33. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bilgola Beach and Clareville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Bilgola Beach (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Clareville (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bilgola Beach and $1,548 in Clareville. 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 Bilgola Beach and Clareville?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,284 from Bilgola Beach and $6,317 from Clareville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bilgola Beach and $2,400 from Clareville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bilgola Beach and Clareville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bilgola Beach costs a cumulative $128,373 and Clareville costs $127,031 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,342 in favour of Clareville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bilgola Beach and Clareville 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.