Elizabeth Bay vs Rushcutters Bay: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters Bay are both Sydney rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 1.8 km and 1.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Elizabeth Bay runs $683 a year cheaper than Rushcutters Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,830.
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 →Elizabeth Bay
Rushcutters Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Elizabeth Bay | Rushcutters Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $924 | $924 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $615 | $648 | -$33 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,950 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,387 | $6,070 | -$683 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,692 | $7,342 | -$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Elizabeth Bay | Rushcutters Bay | 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 — Elizabeth Bay vs Rushcutters Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Elizabeth Bay costs $683 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,830 in favour of Elizabeth Bay.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Rushcutters Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $6,692 from Elizabeth Bay versus $7,342 from Rushcutters Bay.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $924 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Elizabeth Bay by $33 a year, $615 against $648.
- Building insurance favours Elizabeth Bay by $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
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 Rushcutters Bay against medium in Elizabeth Bay, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.9 in Rushcutters Bay against 5.2 in Elizabeth Bay, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Elizabeth Bay cumulative | Rushcutters Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,387 | $6,070 | $683 |
| Year 3 | $16,651 | $18,762 | $2,111 |
| Year 5 | $28,600 | $32,226 | $3,626 |
| Year 10 | $61,756 | $69,586 | $7,830 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elizabeth Bay or Rushcutters Bay cheaper to live in?
Elizabeth Bay is cheaper to run by car at $5,387 per year versus $6,070 for Rushcutters Bay, a difference of $683 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $924 in Elizabeth Bay (Sydney rates (OLG) and $924 in Rushcutters Bay (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Elizabeth Bay and $1,548 in Rushcutters 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 Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $615 from Elizabeth Bay and $648 from Rushcutters Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Elizabeth Bay and $1,920 from Rushcutters Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Elizabeth Bay costs a cumulative $61,756 and Rushcutters Bay costs $69,586 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,830 in favour of Elizabeth Bay. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters 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: Sydney rates (OLG and Sydney 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.