Double Bay vs Point Piper: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Double Bay and Point Piper are both Woollahra rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3.3 km and 4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Point Piper runs $435 a year cheaper than Double Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,987.
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 →Double Bay
Point Piper
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Double Bay | Point Piper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,894 | $1,894 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,069 | $1,284 | -$215 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $2,300 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,461 | $7,026 | +$435 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,312 | $7,662 | +$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Double Bay | Point Piper | 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 — Double Bay vs Point Piper (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Point Piper costs $435 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,987 in favour of Point Piper.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Double Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,312 from Double Bay versus $7,662 from Point Piper.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Double Bay cumulative | Point Piper cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,461 | $7,026 | $435 |
| Year 3 | $23,061 | $21,717 | $1,344 |
| Year 5 | $39,611 | $37,302 | $2,309 |
| Year 10 | $85,532 | $80,545 | $4,987 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Double Bay or Point Piper cheaper to live in?
Point Piper is cheaper to run by car at $7,026 per year versus $7,461 for Double Bay, a difference of $435 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Double Bay and Point Piper?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,894 in Double Bay (Woollahra rates (OLG) and $1,894 in Point Piper (Woollahra rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Double Bay and $1,548 in Point Piper. 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 Double Bay and Point Piper?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,069 from Double Bay and $1,284 from Point Piper to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Double Bay and $1,920 from Point Piper.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Double Bay and Point Piper?
At 3% annual cost growth, Double Bay costs a cumulative $85,532 and Point Piper costs $80,545 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,987 in favour of Point Piper. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Double Bay and Point Piper 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.
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Sources: Woollahra rates (OLG and Woollahra 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.