Forestville vs Roseville Chase, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Forestville (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and Roseville Chase (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (12.1 km and 10.6 km).
Forestville runs $348 a year cheaper than Roseville Chase, driven mostly by council rates. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,989.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Roseville Chase
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Forestville | Roseville Chase | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,766 | $2,189 | -$423 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,588 | $3,213 | +$375 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,850 | -$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,600 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $8,452 | $8,800 | -$348 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,250 | $7,973 | -$723 |
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 | Forestville | Roseville Chase | 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, Forestville vs Roseville Chase (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Forestville and Roseville Chase differ by $348 a year by car, but $300 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 $48, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is council rates at $423 per year.
On public transport the gap is $723 per year, $7,250 from Forestville versus $7,973 from Roseville Chase.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Forestville by $423 a year, $1,766 against $2,189.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Roseville Chase by $375 a year, $3,213 against $3,588.
- Building insurance favours Forestville by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Forestville cumulative | Roseville Chase cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,452 | $8,800 | $348 |
| Year 3 | $26,124 | $27,200 | $1,076 |
| Year 5 | $44,873 | $46,720 | $1,847 |
| Year 10 | $96,893 | $100,882 | $3,989 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Forestville or Roseville Chase cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Forestville runs $8,452 a year by car and Roseville Chase $8,800, but most of the $348 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $48. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Forestville and Roseville Chase?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,766 in Forestville (Northern Beaches rates (OLG) and $2,189 in Roseville Chase (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Forestville and $1,548 in Roseville Chase. 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 Forestville and Roseville Chase?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,588 from Forestville and $3,213 from Roseville Chase to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Forestville and $2,386 from Roseville Chase.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Forestville and Roseville Chase?
At 3% annual cost growth, Forestville costs a cumulative $96,893 and Roseville Chase costs $100,882 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,989 in favour of Forestville. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Forestville and Roseville Chase suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Northern Beaches rates (OLG and Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in 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.