Collaroy vs Dee Why, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Collaroy and Dee Why are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 16.9 km and 14.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Dee Why runs $671 a year cheaper than Collaroy, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,692.
Over 10 years, Dee Why costs about $7,700 less to run than Collaroy. That's about $15 a week.
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Dee Why
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Collaroy | Dee Why | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,658 | $4,237 | +$421 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,100 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,322 | $9,651 | +$671 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,050 | $7,800 | +$250 |
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 | Collaroy | Dee Why | 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, Collaroy vs Dee Why (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Dee Why costs $671 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,692 in favour of Dee Why.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $421 per year. Collaroy is 16.9 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $8,050 from Collaroy versus $7,800 from Dee Why.
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 Dee Why by $421 a year, $4,237 against $4,658.
- Building insurance favours Dee Why by $250 a year, $2,100 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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Collaroy against low in Dee Why, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.7 in Collaroy against 6.7 in Dee Why, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Collaroy cumulative | Dee Why cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,322 | $9,651 | $671 |
| Year 3 | $31,904 | $29,830 | $2,074 |
| Year 5 | $54,801 | $51,238 | $3,563 |
| Year 10 | $118,330 | $110,638 | $7,692 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Collaroy or Dee Why cheaper to live in?
Dee Why is cheaper to run by car at $9,651 per year versus $10,322 for Collaroy, a difference of $671 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Collaroy and Dee Why?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Collaroy (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Dee Why (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Collaroy and $1,548 in Dee Why. 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 Collaroy and Dee Why?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,658 from Collaroy and $4,237 from Dee Why to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Collaroy and $2,386 from Dee Why.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Collaroy and Dee Why?
At 3% annual cost growth, Collaroy costs a cumulative $118,330 and Dee Why costs $110,638 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,692 in favour of Dee Why. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Collaroy and Dee Why 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.