Bondi Beach vs Tamarama: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Bondi Beach and Tamarama are both Waverley rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6.5 km and 6.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Bondi Beach runs $708 a year cheaper than Tamarama, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,116.
Over 10 years, Bondi Beach costs about $8,100 less to run than Tamarama — the same as paying $8,100 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 →Bondi Beach
Tamarama
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bondi Beach | Tamarama | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,344 | $1,344 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $2,087 | $2,145 | -$58 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,950 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,279 | $7,987 | -$708 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,112 | $7,762 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Bondi Beach | Tamarama | 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 — Bondi Beach vs Tamarama (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bondi Beach costs $708 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,116 in favour of Bondi Beach.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Tamarama carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,112 from Bondi Beach versus $7,762 from Tamarama.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,344 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bondi Beach by $58 a year, $2,087 against $2,145.
- Building insurance favours Bondi Beach by $650 a year, $2,300 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 Tamarama against medium in Bondi Beach, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 10 in Tamarama against 9 in Bondi Beach, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bondi Beach cumulative | Tamarama cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,279 | $7,987 | $708 |
| Year 3 | $22,499 | $24,687 | $2,188 |
| Year 5 | $38,645 | $42,404 | $3,759 |
| Year 10 | $83,446 | $91,562 | $8,116 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bondi Beach or Tamarama cheaper to live in?
Bondi Beach is cheaper to run by car at $7,279 per year versus $7,987 for Tamarama, a difference of $708 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bondi Beach and Tamarama?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,344 in Bondi Beach (Waverley rates (OLG) and $1,344 in Tamarama (Waverley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bondi Beach and $1,548 in Tamarama. 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 Bondi Beach and Tamarama?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,087 from Bondi Beach and $2,145 from Tamarama to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Bondi Beach and $1,920 from Tamarama.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bondi Beach and Tamarama?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bondi Beach costs a cumulative $83,446 and Tamarama costs $91,562 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,116 in favour of Bondi Beach. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bondi Beach and Tamarama 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: Waverley rates (OLG and Waverley 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.