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 $675 a year cheaper than Daleys Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,738.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Booker Bay
Daleys Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Booker Bay | Daleys Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,979 | $6,954 | +$25 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $3,650 | -$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,683 | $13,358 | -$675 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,104 | $8,804 | -$700 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $675 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,738 in favour of Booker Bay.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Daleys Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $8,104 from Booker Bay versus $8,804 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 $700 a year, $2,950 against $3,650.
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 | $12,683 | $13,358 | $675 |
| Year 3 | $39,202 | $41,288 | $2,086 |
| Year 5 | $67,336 | $70,919 | $3,583 |
| Year 10 | $145,396 | $153,134 | $7,738 |
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?
Booker Bay is cheaper to run by car at $12,683 per year versus $13,358 for Daleys Point, a difference of $675 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $145,396 and Daleys Point costs $153,134 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,738 in favour of Booker Bay. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Booker Bay and Daleys Point 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.