Crows Nest vs St Leonards, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Crows Nest (North Sydney Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 23.3% in) and St Leonards (Willoughby rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (4.7 km and 5.3 km).
Crows Nest runs $547 a year cheaper than St Leonards, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,270.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,300, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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St Leonards
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Crows Nest | St Leonards | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,327 | $1,341 | -$14 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,546 | $1,729 | -$183 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,850 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,500 | $2,600 | +$900 |
| Total (driving) | $5,921 | $6,468 | -$547 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,295 | $6,659 | -$364 |
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 | Crows Nest | St Leonards | 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, Crows Nest vs St Leonards (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Crows Nest and St Leonards differ by $547 a year by car, but $350 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 $197, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $364 per year, $6,295 from Crows Nest versus $6,659 from St Leonards.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Crows Nest by $14 a year, $1,327 against $1,341.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Crows Nest by $183 a year, $1,546 against $1,729.
- Building insurance favours Crows Nest by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Crows Nest cumulative | St Leonards cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,921 | $6,468 | $547 |
| Year 3 | $18,301 | $19,992 | $1,691 |
| Year 5 | $31,435 | $34,339 | $2,904 |
| Year 10 | $67,878 | $74,148 | $6,270 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crows Nest or St Leonards cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Crows Nest runs $5,921 a year by car and St Leonards $6,468, but most of the $547 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $197. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Crows Nest and St Leonards?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,327 in Crows Nest (North Sydney Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 23.3% in) and $1,341 in St Leonards (Willoughby rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Crows Nest and $1,548 in St Leonards. 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 Crows Nest and St Leonards?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,546 from Crows Nest and $1,729 from St Leonards to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Crows Nest and $1,920 from St Leonards.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Crows Nest and St Leonards?
At 3% annual cost growth, Crows Nest costs a cumulative $67,878 and St Leonards costs $74,148 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,270 in favour of Crows Nest. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Crows Nest and St Leonards suits you better?
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Sources: North Sydney Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 23.3% in and Willoughby 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.