Chifley vs Phillip 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 Phillip Bay are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 11.7 km and 12.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Chifley runs $869 a year cheaper than Phillip Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $9,962.
Over 10 years, Chifley costs about $10,000 less to run than Phillip Bay — the same as paying $10,000 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Chifley
Phillip Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Chifley | Phillip Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,490 | $3,709 | -$219 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,950 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,300 | +$300 |
| Total (driving) | $9,061 | $9,930 | -$869 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,957 | $8,607 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Chifley | Phillip 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 Phillip Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Chifley costs $869 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $9,962 in favour of Chifley.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Phillip Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,957 from Chifley versus $8,607 from Phillip 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 $219 a year, $3,490 against $3,709.
- Building insurance favours Chifley by $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
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 Phillip Bay against medium in Chifley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Chifley cumulative | Phillip Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,061 | $9,930 | $869 |
| Year 3 | $28,007 | $30,693 | $2,686 |
| Year 5 | $48,106 | $52,720 | $4,614 |
| Year 10 | $103,874 | $113,836 | $9,962 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chifley or Phillip Bay cheaper to live in?
Chifley is cheaper to run by car at $9,061 per year versus $9,930 for Phillip Bay, a difference of $869 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Chifley and Phillip Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Chifley (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in Phillip Bay (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Chifley and $1,548 in Phillip 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 Phillip Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,490 from Chifley and $3,709 from Phillip Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Chifley and $2,386 from Phillip Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Chifley and Phillip Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Chifley costs a cumulative $103,874 and Phillip Bay costs $113,836 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $9,962 in favour of Chifley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Chifley and Phillip Bay 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.