Brookvale vs Narraweena, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Brookvale and Narraweena are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 13 km and 14.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $155 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 $1,800, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Narraweena
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Brookvale | Narraweena | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,804 | $4,149 | -$345 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,350 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,968 | $8,813 | +$155 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,550 | $7,050 | +$500 |
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 | Brookvale | Narraweena | 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, Brookvale vs Narraweena (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Brookvale and Narraweena differ by $155 a year by car, but $500 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 $345, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Brookvale carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,550 from Brookvale versus $7,050 from Narraweena.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,766 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Brookvale by $345 a year, $3,804 against $4,149.
- Building insurance favours Narraweena by $500 a year, $1,350 against $1,850.
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 medium in Brookvale against low in Narraweena, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Brookvale against low in Narraweena, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Brookvale cumulative | Narraweena cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,968 | $8,813 | $155 |
| Year 3 | $27,719 | $27,240 | $479 |
| Year 5 | $47,612 | $46,789 | $823 |
| Year 10 | $102,808 | $101,031 | $1,777 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brookvale or Narraweena cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Brookvale runs $8,968 a year by car and Narraweena $8,813, but most of the $155 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $345. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Brookvale and Narraweena?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Brookvale (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Narraweena (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Brookvale and $1,548 in Narraweena. 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 Brookvale and Narraweena?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,804 from Brookvale and $4,149 from Narraweena to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Brookvale and $2,386 from Narraweena.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Brookvale and Narraweena?
At 3% annual cost growth, Brookvale costs a cumulative $102,808 and Narraweena costs $101,031 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,777 in favour of Narraweena. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Brookvale and Narraweena suits you better?
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Sources: Northern Beaches 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.