Miranda vs Yowie 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
Miranda and Yowie Bay are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 20.9 km and 21.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Miranda runs $563 a year cheaper than Yowie Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,455.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,500, about $12 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 →Miranda
Yowie Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Miranda | Yowie 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 | $5,395 | $5,558 | -$163 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,010 | $10,573 | -$563 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,015 | $7,415 | -$400 |
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 | Miranda | Yowie 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, Miranda vs Yowie Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Miranda and Yowie Bay differ by $563 a year by car, but $400 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 $163, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Yowie Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,015 from Miranda versus $7,415 from Yowie 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 Miranda by $163 a year, $5,395 against $5,558.
- Building insurance favours Miranda by $400 a year, $1,450 against $1,850.
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 Yowie Bay against medium in Miranda, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.3 in Yowie Bay against 6.6 in Miranda, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Miranda cumulative | Yowie Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,010 | $10,573 | $563 |
| Year 3 | $30,940 | $32,680 | $1,740 |
| Year 5 | $53,144 | $56,133 | $2,989 |
| Year 10 | $114,753 | $121,208 | $6,455 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Miranda or Yowie Bay cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Miranda runs $10,010 a year by car and Yowie Bay $10,573, but most of the $563 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $163. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Miranda and Yowie Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Miranda (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Yowie Bay (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Miranda and $1,548 in Yowie 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 Miranda and Yowie Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,395 from Miranda and $5,558 from Yowie Bay to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Miranda and $2,400 from Yowie Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Miranda and Yowie Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Miranda costs a cumulative $114,753 and Yowie Bay costs $121,208 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,455 in favour of Miranda. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Miranda and Yowie Bay 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: 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.