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 $707 a year cheaper than Clovelly, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,105.
Over 10 years, Coogee costs about $8,100 less to run than Clovelly — the same as paying $8,100 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 →Clovelly
Coogee
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Clovelly | Coogee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $2,346 | $2,289 | +$57 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $2,300 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,567 | $7,860 | +$707 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,141 | $7,491 | +$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 | 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
Coogee costs $707 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,105 in favour of Coogee.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Clovelly carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,141 from Clovelly versus $7,491 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 $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 Clovelly against medium in Coogee, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Clovelly cumulative | Coogee cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,567 | $7,860 | $707 |
| Year 3 | $26,480 | $24,294 | $2,186 |
| Year 5 | $45,483 | $41,730 | $3,753 |
| Year 10 | $98,211 | $90,106 | $8,105 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clovelly or Coogee cheaper to live in?
Coogee is cheaper to run by car at $7,860 per year versus $8,567 for Clovelly, a difference of $707 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $98,211 and Coogee costs $90,106 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,105 in favour of Coogee. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Clovelly and Coogee 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.