Booker Bay vs Daleys Point, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Booker Bay and Daleys Point are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 41.5 km and 42.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Booker Bay runs $425 a year cheaper than Daleys Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,872.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,900, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Daleys Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Booker Bay | Daleys Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,979 | $6,954 | +$25 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,800 | $2,250 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,533 | $11,958 | -$425 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,954 | $7,404 | -$450 |
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 | Booker Bay | Daleys Point | 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, Booker Bay vs Daleys Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Booker Bay and Daleys Point differ by $425 a year by car, but $450 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 $25, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Daleys Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $6,954 from Booker Bay versus $7,404 from Daleys Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,454 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Daleys Point by $25 a year, $6,954 against $6,979.
- Building insurance favours Booker Bay by $450 a year, $1,800 against $2,250.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Daleys Point against low in Booker Bay, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7 in Daleys Point against 5.4 in Booker Bay, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Booker Bay cumulative | Daleys Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,533 | $11,958 | $425 |
| Year 3 | $35,647 | $36,961 | $1,314 |
| Year 5 | $61,230 | $63,487 | $2,257 |
| Year 10 | $132,213 | $137,085 | $4,872 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Booker Bay or Daleys Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Booker Bay runs $11,533 a year by car and Daleys Point $11,958, but most of the $425 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $25. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Booker Bay and Daleys Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Booker Bay (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Daleys Point (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Booker Bay and $1,300 in Daleys Point. 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 Booker Bay and Daleys Point?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,979 from Booker Bay and $6,954 from Daleys Point to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Booker Bay and $2,400 from Daleys Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Booker Bay and Daleys Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Booker Bay costs a cumulative $132,213 and Daleys Point costs $137,085 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,872 in favour of Booker Bay. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Booker Bay and Daleys Point suits you better?
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Sources: Central Coast rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.