Bilgola Plateau vs Clareville: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bilgola Plateau and Clareville are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 26.7 km and 27.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bilgola Plateau runs $548 a year cheaper than Clareville, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,282.
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 Plateau
Clareville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bilgola Plateau | Clareville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,011 | $6,109 | -$98 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,300 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,175 | $11,723 | -$548 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,564 | $8,014 | -$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bilgola Plateau | Clareville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,148 | $2,148 | - |
| Unit | $1,716 | $1,716 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; 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 Plateau vs Clareville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bilgola Plateau costs $548 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,282 in favour of Bilgola Plateau.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Clareville carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,564 from Bilgola Plateau versus $8,014 from Clareville.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bilgola Plateau cumulative | Clareville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,175 | $11,723 | $548 |
| Year 3 | $34,541 | $36,235 | $1,694 |
| Year 5 | $59,330 | $62,239 | $2,909 |
| Year 10 | $128,109 | $134,391 | $6,282 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bilgola Plateau or Clareville cheaper to live in?
Bilgola Plateau is cheaper to run by car at $11,175 per year versus $11,723 for Clareville, a difference of $548 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bilgola Plateau and Clareville?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Bilgola Plateau (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Clareville (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bilgola Plateau 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 Plateau and Clareville?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,011 from Bilgola Plateau and $6,109 from Clareville to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Bilgola Plateau and $2,400 from Clareville.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bilgola Plateau and Clareville?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bilgola Plateau costs a cumulative $128,109 and Clareville costs $134,391 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,282 in favour of Bilgola Plateau. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bilgola Plateau and Clareville 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 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.