Davistown vs Yattalunga: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Davistown and Yattalunga are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 44.9 km and 46.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Davistown runs $603 a year cheaper than Yattalunga, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,913.
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
Yattalunga
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Davistown | Yattalunga | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,884 | $6,787 | +$97 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $3,650 | -$700 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,588 | $13,191 | -$603 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,104 | $8,804 | -$700 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Davistown | Yattalunga | 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 — Davistown vs Yattalunga (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Davistown costs $603 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,913 in favour of Davistown.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $700 per year. Yattalunga carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $700 per year, $8,104 from Davistown versus $8,804 from Yattalunga.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,454 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Yattalunga by $97 a year, $6,787 against $6,884.
- Building insurance favours Davistown by $700 a year, $2,950 against $3,650.
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 Yattalunga against low in Davistown, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Davistown cumulative | Yattalunga cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,588 | $13,191 | $603 |
| Year 3 | $38,908 | $40,772 | $1,864 |
| Year 5 | $66,831 | $70,033 | $3,202 |
| Year 10 | $144,307 | $151,220 | $6,913 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Davistown or Yattalunga cheaper to live in?
Davistown is cheaper to run by car at $12,588 per year versus $13,191 for Yattalunga, a difference of $603 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Davistown and Yattalunga?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Davistown (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Yattalunga (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Davistown and $1,300 in Yattalunga. 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 Yattalunga?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,884 from Davistown and $6,787 from Yattalunga to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Davistown and $2,400 from Yattalunga.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Davistown and Yattalunga?
At 3% annual cost growth, Davistown costs a cumulative $144,307 and Yattalunga costs $151,220 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,913 in favour of Davistown. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Davistown and Yattalunga 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 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.