Davidson vs Frenchs Forest, 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 and Frenchs Forest are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 14.6 km and 13.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Frenchs Forest runs $595 a year cheaper than Davidson, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,821.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,800, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Frenchs Forest
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Davidson | Frenchs Forest | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,170 | $3,875 | +$295 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,334 | $8,739 | +$595 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,550 | $7,250 | +$300 |
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 | Davidson | Frenchs Forest | 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 Frenchs Forest (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Davidson and Frenchs Forest differ by $595 a year by car, but $300 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 $295, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $7,550 from Davidson versus $7,250 from Frenchs Forest.
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 Frenchs Forest by $295 a year, $3,875 against $4,170.
- Building insurance favours Frenchs Forest by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
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 high in Davidson against medium in Frenchs Forest, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Davidson cumulative | Frenchs Forest cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,334 | $8,739 | $595 |
| Year 3 | $28,850 | $27,011 | $1,839 |
| Year 5 | $49,555 | $46,397 | $3,158 |
| Year 10 | $107,004 | $100,183 | $6,821 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Davidson or Frenchs Forest cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Davidson runs $9,334 a year by car and Frenchs Forest $8,739, but most of the $595 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $295. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Davidson and Frenchs Forest?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Davidson (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Frenchs Forest (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Davidson and $1,548 in Frenchs Forest. 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 Frenchs Forest?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,170 from Davidson and $3,875 from Frenchs Forest to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Davidson and $2,386 from Frenchs Forest.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Davidson and Frenchs Forest?
At 3% annual cost growth, Davidson costs a cumulative $107,004 and Frenchs Forest costs $100,183 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,821 in favour of Frenchs Forest. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Davidson and Frenchs Forest 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.