Davidson vs East Killara: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Davidson (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and East Killara (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (14.6 km and 12.7 km).
Davidson runs $436 a year cheaper than East Killara, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,998.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Davidson
East Killara
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Davidson | East Killara | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,766 | $2,189 | -$423 |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,170 | $3,733 | +$437 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,550 | $3,000 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,034 | $10,470 | -$436 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,250 | $9,123 | -$873 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Davidson | East Killara | 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 — Davidson vs East Killara (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Davidson costs $436 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,998 in favour of Davidson.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. East Killara carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $873 per year, $8,250 from Davidson versus $9,123 from East Killara.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Davidson by $423 a year, $1,766 against $2,189.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours East Killara by $437 a year, $3,733 against $4,170.
- Building insurance favours Davidson by $450 a year, $2,550 against $3,000.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in East Killara against low in Davidson, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 10 in East Killara against 8.5 in Davidson, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Davidson cumulative | East Killara cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,034 | $10,470 | $436 |
| Year 3 | $31,014 | $32,362 | $1,348 |
| Year 5 | $53,272 | $55,587 | $2,315 |
| Year 10 | $115,029 | $120,027 | $4,998 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Davidson or East Killara cheaper to live in?
Davidson is cheaper to run by car at $10,034 per year versus $10,470 for East Killara, a difference of $436 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Davidson and East Killara?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Davidson (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $2,189 in East Killara (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Davidson and $1,548 in East Killara. 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 Davidson and East Killara?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,170 from Davidson and $3,733 from East Killara to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Davidson and $2,386 from East Killara.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Davidson and East Killara?
At 3% annual cost growth, Davidson costs a cumulative $115,029 and East Killara costs $120,027 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,998 in favour of Davidson. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Davidson and East Killara 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: Northern Beaches rates (OLG and Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in 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.