La Perouse vs Little 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
La Perouse and Little Bay are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 13.8 km and 13.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
La Perouse runs $511 a year cheaper than Little Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,858.
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 →La Perouse
Little Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | La Perouse | Little Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,991 | $3,852 | +$139 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $2,950 | -$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,562 | $10,073 | -$511 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,957 | $8,607 | -$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 | La Perouse | Little 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 — La Perouse vs Little Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
La Perouse costs $511 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,858 in favour of La Perouse.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Little Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,957 from La Perouse versus $8,607 from Little Bay.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,723 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Little Bay by $139 a year, $3,852 against $3,991.
- Building insurance favours La Perouse 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 Little Bay against medium in La Perouse, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | La Perouse cumulative | Little Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,562 | $10,073 | $511 |
| Year 3 | $29,555 | $31,135 | $1,580 |
| Year 5 | $50,766 | $53,479 | $2,713 |
| Year 10 | $109,618 | $115,476 | $5,858 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is La Perouse or Little Bay cheaper to live in?
La Perouse is cheaper to run by car at $9,562 per year versus $10,073 for Little Bay, a difference of $511 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in La Perouse and Little Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in La Perouse (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in Little Bay (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in La Perouse and $1,548 in Little 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 La Perouse and Little Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,991 from La Perouse and $3,852 from Little Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from La Perouse and $2,386 from Little Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between La Perouse and Little Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, La Perouse costs a cumulative $109,618 and Little Bay costs $115,476 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,858 in favour of La Perouse. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of La Perouse and Little 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: Randwick rates (OLG and Randwick 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.