Clareville vs Pittwater, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Clareville and Pittwater are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 27.6 km and 27.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Clareville runs $432 a year cheaper than Pittwater, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,953.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,000, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Pittwater
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clareville | Pittwater | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,317 | $6,349 | -$32 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,081 | $11,513 | -$432 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,164 | $7,564 | -$400 |
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 | Clareville | Pittwater | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,292 | +$50 |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,871 | +$38 |
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, Clareville vs Pittwater (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Clareville and Pittwater differ by $432 a year by car, but $400 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 $32, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Pittwater carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,164 from Clareville versus $7,564 from Pittwater.
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 Clareville by $32 a year, $6,317 against $6,349.
- Building insurance favours Clareville by $400 a year, $1,450 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 high in Pittwater against medium in Clareville, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Clareville cumulative | Pittwater cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,081 | $11,513 | $432 |
| Year 3 | $34,250 | $35,586 | $1,336 |
| Year 5 | $58,831 | $61,124 | $2,293 |
| Year 10 | $127,031 | $131,984 | $4,953 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clareville or Pittwater cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Clareville runs $11,081 a year by car and Pittwater $11,513, but most of the $432 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $32. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Clareville and Pittwater?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Clareville (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Pittwater (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Clareville and $1,548 in Pittwater. 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 Clareville and Pittwater?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,317 from Clareville and $6,349 from Pittwater to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Clareville and $2,400 from Pittwater.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Clareville and Pittwater?
At 3% annual cost growth, Clareville costs a cumulative $127,031 and Pittwater costs $131,984 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,953 in favour of Clareville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clareville and Pittwater 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.