Davistown vs Empire Bay: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Davistown and Empire Bay are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 44.9 km and 44.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Davistown runs $327 a year cheaper than Empire Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,749.
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 →Davistown
Empire Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Davistown | Empire Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,657 | $6,684 | -$27 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $3,250 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,361 | $12,688 | -$327 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,104 | $8,404 | -$300 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Davistown | Empire Bay | 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 — Davistown vs Empire Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Davistown costs $327 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,749 in favour of Davistown.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $300 per year. Empire Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $300 per year, $8,104 from Davistown versus $8,404 from Empire Bay.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Davistown cumulative | Empire Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,361 | $12,688 | $327 |
| Year 3 | $38,207 | $39,217 | $1,010 |
| Year 5 | $65,626 | $67,362 | $1,736 |
| Year 10 | $141,705 | $145,454 | $3,749 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Davistown or Empire Bay cheaper to live in?
Davistown is cheaper to run by car at $12,361 per year versus $12,688 for Empire Bay, a difference of $327 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Davistown and Empire Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Davistown (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Empire Bay (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Davistown and $1,300 in Empire Bay. 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 Davistown and Empire Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,657 from Davistown and $6,684 from Empire Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Davistown and $2,400 from Empire Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Davistown and Empire Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Davistown costs a cumulative $141,705 and Empire Bay costs $145,454 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,749 in favour of Davistown. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Davistown and Empire Bay 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: Central Coast rates (OLG and Central Coast 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.