Old Bar vs Wallabi Point, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Old Bar and Wallabi Point are both Mid-Coast rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Old Bar runs $350 a year cheaper than Wallabi Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,012.
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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Wallabi Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Old Bar | Wallabi Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,609 | $1,609 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,800 | $3,150 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,909 | $24,259 | -$350 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,909 | $24,259 | -$350 |
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 | Old Bar | Wallabi Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,827 | $2,827 | - |
| Unit | $2,369 | $2,369 | - |
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, Old Bar vs Wallabi Point (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Old Bar and Wallabi Point differ by $350 a year by car, but $350 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Wallabi Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $23,909 from Old Bar versus $24,259 from Wallabi Point.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,609 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Old Bar by $350 a year, $2,800 against $3,150.
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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated high in Wallabi Point against medium in Old Bar, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Old Bar cumulative | Wallabi Point cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,909 | $24,259 | $350 |
| Year 3 | $73,900 | $74,982 | $1,082 |
| Year 5 | $126,936 | $128,794 | $1,858 |
| Year 10 | $274,090 | $278,102 | $4,012 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Old Bar or Wallabi Point cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Old Bar runs $23,909 a year by car and Wallabi Point $24,259, but most of the $350 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Old Bar and Wallabi Point?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,609 in Old Bar (Mid-Coast rates (OLG) and $1,609 in Wallabi Point (Mid-Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Old Bar and $1,300 in Wallabi Point. 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 Old Bar and Wallabi Point?
Old Bar carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Wallabi Point carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Old Bar and Wallabi Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Old Bar costs a cumulative $274,090 and Wallabi Point costs $278,102 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,012 in favour of Old Bar. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Old Bar and Wallabi Point suits you better?
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Sources: Mid-Coast rates (OLG and Mid-Coast 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.