Bondi vs Manly, 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 (Waverley rates (OLG) and Manly (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (6 km and 10.4 km).
Bondi runs $2,445 a year cheaper than Manly, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $28,029.
Over 10 years, Bondi costs about $28,000 less to run than Manly. That's about $54 a week.
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Manly
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bondi | Manly | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,344 | $1,766 | -$422 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,939 | $3,162 | -$1,223 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $2,386 | -$466 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $2,300 | -$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,331 | $8,776 | -$2,445 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,312 | $8,000 | -$1,688 |
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 | Bondi | Manly | 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 vs Manly (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bondi costs $2,445 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $28,029 in favour of Bondi.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $1,223 per year. Manly is 10.4 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $1,688 per year, $6,312 from Bondi versus $8,000 from Manly.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Bondi by $422 a year, $1,344 against $1,766.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Bondi by $1,223 a year, $1,939 against $3,162.
- Building insurance favours Bondi by $800 a year, $1,500 against $2,300.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Flood risk is rated high in Manly against low in Bondi, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Manly against low in Bondi, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bondi cumulative | Manly cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,331 | $8,776 | $2,445 |
| Year 3 | $19,568 | $27,126 | $7,558 |
| Year 5 | $33,612 | $46,593 | $12,981 |
| Year 10 | $72,578 | $100,607 | $28,029 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bondi or Manly cheaper to live in?
Bondi is cheaper to run by car at $6,331 per year versus $8,776 for Manly, a difference of $2,445 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bondi and Manly?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,344 in Bondi (Waverley rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Manly (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bondi and $1,548 in Manly. 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 and Manly?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,939 from Bondi and $3,162 from Manly to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Bondi and $2,386 from Manly.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bondi and Manly?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bondi costs a cumulative $72,578 and Manly costs $100,607 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $28,029 in favour of Bondi. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bondi and Manly suits you better?
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Sources: Waverley 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.