Dee Why vs Manly, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Dee Why and Manly are both Northern Beaches rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 14.9 km and 10.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Manly runs $875 a year cheaper than Dee Why, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,031.
Over 10 years, Manly costs about $10,000 less to run than Dee Why. That's about $19 a week.
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Manly
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Dee Why | Manly | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,766 | $1,766 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,237 | $3,162 | +$1,075 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,100 | $2,300 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,600 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $9,651 | $8,776 | +$875 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,800 | $8,000 | -$200 |
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 | Dee Why | Manly | 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, Dee Why vs Manly (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Manly costs $875 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $10,031 in favour of Manly.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $1,075 per year. Dee Why is 14.9 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,800 from Dee Why versus $8,000 from Manly.
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 Manly by $1,075 a year, $3,162 against $4,237.
- Building insurance favours Dee Why by $200 a year, $2,100 against $2,300.
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 medium in Manly against low in Dee Why, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.8 in Manly against 6.7 in Dee Why, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Dee Why cumulative | Manly cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,651 | $8,776 | $875 |
| Year 3 | $29,830 | $27,126 | $2,704 |
| Year 5 | $51,238 | $46,593 | $4,645 |
| Year 10 | $110,638 | $100,607 | $10,031 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dee Why or Manly cheaper to live in?
Manly is cheaper to run by car at $8,776 per year versus $9,651 for Dee Why, a difference of $875 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Dee Why and Manly?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Dee Why (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $1,766 in Manly (Northern Beaches rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Dee Why and $1,548 in Manly. 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 Dee Why and Manly?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,237 from Dee Why and $3,162 from Manly to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Dee Why and $2,386 from Manly.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Dee Why and Manly?
At 3% annual cost growth, Dee Why costs a cumulative $110,638 and Manly costs $100,607 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,031 in favour of Manly. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Dee Why and Manly 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.