Double Bay vs Point Piper, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/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.
The two sit within $277 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $3,200, about $6 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Sydney suburbs that fit your budget →Double Bay
Point Piper
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Double Bay | Point Piper | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,894 | $1,894 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,105 | $1,328 | -$223 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,897 | $6,620 | +$277 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,712 | $7,212 | +$500 |
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 | Double Bay | Point Piper | 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, Double Bay vs Point Piper (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Double Bay and Point Piper differ by $277 a year by car, but $500 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $223, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Double Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,712 from Double Bay versus $7,212 from Point Piper.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,894 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Double Bay by $223 a year, $1,105 against $1,328.
- Building insurance favours Point Piper by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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.
Flood risk is rated high in Double Bay against medium in Point Piper, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Double Bay cumulative | Point Piper cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,897 | $6,620 | $277 |
| Year 3 | $21,318 | $20,462 | $856 |
| Year 5 | $36,617 | $35,146 | $1,471 |
| Year 10 | $79,066 | $75,891 | $3,175 |
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?
Neither is named cheaper. Double Bay runs $6,897 a year by car and Point Piper $6,620, but most of the $277 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $223. 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 $1,105 from Double Bay and $1,328 from Point Piper to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/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 $79,066 and Point Piper costs $75,891 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,175 in favour of Point Piper. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Double Bay and Point Piper suits you better?
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: Woollahra rates (OLG and Woollahra 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.