Castle Cove vs Killarney Heights: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Castle Cove (Willoughby rates (OLG) and Killarney Heights (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (9.1 km and 10.3 km).
Castle Cove runs $692 a year cheaper than Killarney Heights, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,933.
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 →Castle Cove
Killarney Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Castle Cove | Killarney Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,341 | $1,766 | -$425 |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $2,818 | $3,135 | -$317 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $2,386 | -$466 |
| Home insurance | $2,600 | $2,550 | +$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,307 | $8,999 | -$692 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,409 | $8,250 | -$841 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Castle Cove | Killarney Heights | 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 — Castle Cove vs Killarney Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Castle Cove costs $692 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,933 in favour of Castle Cove.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $425 per year.
On public transport the gap is $841 per year, $7,409 from Castle Cove versus $8,250 from Killarney Heights.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Castle Cove by $425 a year, $1,341 against $1,766.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Castle Cove by $317 a year, $2,818 against $3,135.
- Building insurance favours Killarney Heights by $50 a year, $2,550 against $2,600.
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 Castle Cove against low in Killarney Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Killarney Heights against medium in Castle Cove, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Castle Cove cumulative | Killarney Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,307 | $8,999 | $692 |
| Year 3 | $25,676 | $27,815 | $2,139 |
| Year 5 | $44,103 | $47,777 | $3,674 |
| Year 10 | $95,230 | $103,163 | $7,933 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Castle Cove or Killarney Heights cheaper to live in?
Castle Cove is cheaper to run by car at $8,307 per year versus $8,999 for Killarney Heights, a difference of $692 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Castle Cove and Killarney Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,341 in Castle Cove (Willoughby rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Killarney Heights (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Castle Cove and $1,548 in Killarney Heights. 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 Castle Cove and Killarney Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,818 from Castle Cove and $3,135 from Killarney Heights to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Castle Cove and $2,386 from Killarney Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Castle Cove and Killarney Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Castle Cove costs a cumulative $95,230 and Killarney Heights costs $103,163 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,933 in favour of Castle Cove. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Castle Cove and Killarney Heights 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: Willoughby 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.