Chifley vs Little Bay, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Chifley and Little Bay are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 11.7 km and 13.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Chifley runs $862 a year cheaper than Little Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,882.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $9,900, about $19 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Little Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Chifley | Little Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,490 | $3,852 | -$362 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,350 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,300 | +$300 |
| Total (driving) | $8,611 | $9,473 | -$862 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,507 | $8,007 | -$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 | Chifley | Little Bay | 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, Chifley vs Little Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Chifley and Little Bay differ by $862 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 $362, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Little Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,507 from Chifley versus $8,007 from Little Bay.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,723 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Chifley by $362 a year, $3,490 against $3,852.
- Building insurance favours Chifley by $500 a year, $1,850 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 Little Bay against medium in Chifley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Chifley cumulative | Little Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,611 | $9,473 | $862 |
| Year 3 | $26,616 | $29,280 | $2,664 |
| Year 5 | $45,717 | $50,293 | $4,576 |
| Year 10 | $98,715 | $108,597 | $9,882 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chifley or Little Bay cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Chifley runs $8,611 a year by car and Little Bay $9,473, but most of the $862 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $362. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Chifley and Little Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Chifley (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in Little Bay (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Chifley and $1,548 in Little Bay. 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 Chifley and Little Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,490 from Chifley and $3,852 from Little Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Chifley and $2,386 from Little Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Chifley and Little Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Chifley costs a cumulative $98,715 and Little Bay costs $108,597 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,882 in favour of Chifley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Chifley and Little Bay suits you better?
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Sources: Randwick rates (OLG and Randwick 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.