Bilgola Beach vs Newport: 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 Newport are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 27.3 km and 25.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Newport runs $488 a year cheaper than Bilgola Beach, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,594.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Bilgola Beach
Newport
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bilgola Beach | Newport | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,284 | $6,096 | +$188 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,600 | $2,300 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,198 | $11,710 | +$488 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,314 | $8,014 | +$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bilgola Beach | Newport | 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 Newport (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Newport costs $488 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,594 in favour of Newport.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Bilgola Beach carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,314 from Bilgola Beach versus $8,014 from Newport.
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 Newport by $188 a year, $6,096 against $6,284.
- Building insurance favours Newport by $300 a year, $2,300 against $2,600.
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 Newport, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bilgola Beach cumulative | Newport cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,198 | $11,710 | $488 |
| Year 3 | $37,703 | $36,194 | $1,509 |
| Year 5 | $64,761 | $62,170 | $2,591 |
| Year 10 | $139,836 | $134,242 | $5,594 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bilgola Beach or Newport cheaper to live in?
Newport is cheaper to run by car at $11,710 per year versus $12,198 for Bilgola Beach, a difference of $488 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bilgola Beach and Newport?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Bilgola Beach (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Newport (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bilgola Beach and $1,548 in Newport. 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 Newport?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,284 from Bilgola Beach and $6,096 from Newport to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bilgola Beach and $2,400 from Newport.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bilgola Beach and Newport?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bilgola Beach costs a cumulative $139,836 and Newport costs $134,242 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,594 in favour of Newport. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bilgola Beach and Newport 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.