Bondi 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 and Tamarama are both Waverley rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6 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 runs $1,056 a year cheaper than Tamarama, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,106.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $12,100, about $23 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tamarama
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Bondi | Tamarama | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,344 | $1,344 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,939 | $2,145 | -$206 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $2,350 | -$850 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,331 | $7,387 | -$1,056 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,312 | $7,162 | -$850 |
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 | 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 vs Tamarama (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Bondi and Tamarama differ by $1,056 a year by car, but $850 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 $206, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $850 per year. Tamarama carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $850 per year, $6,312 from Bondi versus $7,162 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 by $206 a year, $1,939 against $2,145.
- Building insurance favours Bondi by $850 a year, $1,500 against $2,350.
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 low in Bondi, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Bondi cumulative | Tamarama cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,331 | $7,387 | $1,056 |
| Year 3 | $19,568 | $22,832 | $3,264 |
| Year 5 | $33,612 | $39,219 | $5,607 |
| Year 10 | $72,578 | $84,684 | $12,106 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bondi or Tamarama cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Bondi runs $6,331 a year by car and Tamarama $7,387, but most of the $1,056 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $206. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Bondi and Tamarama?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,344 in Bondi (Waverley rates (OLG) and $1,344 in Tamarama (Waverley rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Bondi 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 and Tamarama?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,939 from Bondi and $2,145 from Tamarama to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Bondi and $1,920 from Tamarama.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Bondi and Tamarama?
At 3% annual cost growth, Bondi costs a cumulative $72,578 and Tamarama costs $84,684 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,106 in favour of Bondi. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Bondi and Tamarama suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.