Clovelly vs Coogee, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Clovelly and Coogee are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 7.4 km and 7.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Coogee runs $557 a year cheaper than Clovelly, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,386.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,400, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Coogee
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clovelly | Coogee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,346 | $2,289 | +$57 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,967 | $7,410 | +$557 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,541 | $7,041 | +$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 | Clovelly | Coogee | 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, Clovelly vs Coogee (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Clovelly and Coogee differ by $557 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 $57, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Clovelly carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,541 from Clovelly versus $7,041 from Coogee.
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 Coogee by $57 a year, $2,289 against $2,346.
- Building insurance favours Coogee 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 Clovelly against medium in Coogee, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Clovelly cumulative | Coogee cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,967 | $7,410 | $557 |
| Year 3 | $24,625 | $22,904 | $1,721 |
| Year 5 | $42,298 | $39,341 | $2,957 |
| Year 10 | $91,333 | $84,947 | $6,386 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clovelly or Coogee cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Clovelly runs $7,967 a year by car and Coogee $7,410, but most of the $557 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $57. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Clovelly and Coogee?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Clovelly (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in Coogee (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Clovelly and $1,548 in Coogee. 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 Clovelly and Coogee?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,346 from Clovelly and $2,289 from Coogee to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Clovelly and $1,920 from Coogee.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Clovelly and Coogee?
At 3% annual cost growth, Clovelly costs a cumulative $91,333 and Coogee costs $84,947 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,386 in favour of Coogee. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clovelly and Coogee 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.