Bilgola Plateau 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 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 $401 a year cheaper than Clareville, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,597.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,600, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Clareville
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bilgola Plateau | 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 | $6,216 | $6,317 | -$101 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,150 | $1,450 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,680 | $11,081 | -$401 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,864 | $7,164 | -$300 |
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 Plateau | 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 Plateau vs Clareville (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bilgola Plateau and Clareville differ by $401 a year by car, but $300 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 $101, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Clareville carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $6,864 from Bilgola Plateau versus $7,164 from Clareville.
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 Plateau by $101 a year, $6,216 against $6,317.
- Building insurance favours Bilgola Plateau by $300 a year, $1,150 against $1,450.
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 medium in Clareville against low in Bilgola Plateau, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bilgola Plateau cumulative | Clareville cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,680 | $11,081 | $401 |
| Year 3 | $33,011 | $34,250 | $1,239 |
| Year 5 | $56,702 | $58,831 | $2,129 |
| Year 10 | $122,434 | $127,031 | $4,597 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bilgola Plateau or Clareville cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bilgola Plateau runs $10,680 a year by car and Clareville $11,081, but most of the $401 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $101. 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 $6,216 from Bilgola Plateau and $6,317 from Clareville to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/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 $122,434 and Clareville costs $127,031 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,597 in favour of Bilgola Plateau. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bilgola Plateau 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.