Kangaroo Point vs Oyster 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
Kangaroo Point and Oyster Bay are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 18.2 km and 19.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Kangaroo Point runs $526 a year cheaper than Oyster Bay, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,030.
Over 10 years, Kangaroo Point costs about $6,000 less to run than Oyster Bay. That's about $12 a week.
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Oyster Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kangaroo Point | Oyster Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,913 | $5,189 | -$276 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,100 | -$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,928 | $10,454 | -$526 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,401 | $7,651 | -$250 |
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 | Kangaroo Point | Oyster 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, Kangaroo Point vs Oyster Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kangaroo Point costs $526 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,030 in favour of Kangaroo Point.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $276 per year. Oyster Bay is 19.7 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $7,401 from Kangaroo Point versus $7,651 from Oyster Bay.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,617 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kangaroo Point by $276 a year, $4,913 against $5,189.
- Building insurance favours Kangaroo Point by $250 a year, $1,850 against $2,100.
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.
The catchment state school scores 8.5 in Oyster Bay against 7.4 in Kangaroo Point, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kangaroo Point cumulative | Oyster Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,928 | $10,454 | $526 |
| Year 3 | $30,686 | $32,312 | $1,626 |
| Year 5 | $52,709 | $55,502 | $2,793 |
| Year 10 | $113,813 | $119,843 | $6,030 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kangaroo Point or Oyster Bay cheaper to live in?
Kangaroo Point is cheaper to run by car at $9,928 per year versus $10,454 for Oyster Bay, a difference of $526 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kangaroo Point and Oyster Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Kangaroo Point (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Oyster Bay (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Kangaroo Point and $1,548 in Oyster 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 Kangaroo Point and Oyster Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,913 from Kangaroo Point and $5,189 from Oyster Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Kangaroo Point and $2,386 from Oyster Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Kangaroo Point and Oyster Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kangaroo Point costs a cumulative $113,813 and Oyster Bay costs $119,843 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,030 in favour of Kangaroo Point. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kangaroo Point and Oyster Bay suits you better?
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Sources: Sutherland rates (OLG and Sutherland 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.