Davidson vs Frenchs Forest: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/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 $686 a year cheaper than Davidson, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,864.
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
Frenchs Forest
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Davidson | Frenchs Forest | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $4,033 | $3,747 | +$286 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,550 | $2,150 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,897 | $9,211 | +$686 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,250 | $7,850 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Davidson | Frenchs Forest | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,148 | $2,148 | - |
| Unit | $1,716 | $1,716 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; 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
Frenchs Forest costs $686 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,864 in favour of Frenchs Forest.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,250 from Davidson versus $7,850 from Frenchs Forest.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Davidson cumulative | Frenchs Forest cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,897 | $9,211 | $686 |
| Year 3 | $30,591 | $28,470 | $2,121 |
| Year 5 | $52,545 | $48,902 | $3,643 |
| Year 10 | $113,458 | $105,594 | $7,864 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Davidson or Frenchs Forest cheaper to live in?
Frenchs Forest is cheaper to run by car at $9,211 per year versus $9,897 for Davidson, a difference of $686 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. 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 $4,033 from Davidson and $3,747 from Frenchs Forest to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/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 $113,458 and Frenchs Forest costs $105,594 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,864 in favour of Frenchs Forest. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Davidson and Frenchs Forest 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 Northern Beaches rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.