Bondi vs Paddington, 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 Paddington (Woollahra rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (6 km and 2.4 km).
The two sit within $225 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,600, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Paddington
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bondi | Paddington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,344 | $1,894 | -$550 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,939 | $814 | +$1,125 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,850 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $3,500 | -$900 |
| Total (driving) | $6,331 | $6,106 | +$225 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,312 | $7,212 | -$900 |
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 | Paddington | 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 Paddington (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bondi and Paddington differ by $225 a year by car, but $350 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 $575, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $1,125 per year. Bondi is 6 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $900 per year, $6,312 from Bondi versus $7,212 from Paddington.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Bondi by $550 a year, $1,344 against $1,894.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Paddington by $1,125 a year, $814 against $1,939.
- Building insurance favours Bondi by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
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 medium in Paddington against low in Bondi, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bondi cumulative | Paddington cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,331 | $6,106 | $225 |
| Year 3 | $19,568 | $18,873 | $695 |
| Year 5 | $33,612 | $32,418 | $1,194 |
| Year 10 | $72,578 | $69,998 | $2,580 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bondi or Paddington cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bondi runs $6,331 a year by car and Paddington $6,106, but most of the $225 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $575. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bondi and Paddington?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,344 in Bondi (Waverley rates (OLG) and $1,894 in Paddington (Woollahra rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bondi and $1,548 in Paddington. 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 Paddington?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,939 from Bondi and $814 from Paddington to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Bondi and $1,920 from Paddington.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bondi and Paddington?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bondi costs a cumulative $72,578 and Paddington costs $69,998 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,580 in favour of Paddington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bondi and Paddington suits you better?
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Sources: Waverley rates (OLG and Woollahra 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.