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 $400 a year cheaper than Wallabi Point, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,586.
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 →Old Bar
Wallabi Point
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Old Bar | Wallabi Point | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,609 | $1,609 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $3,500 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $24,209 | $24,609 | -$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,409 | $8,809 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; 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 costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,586 in favour of Old Bar.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Wallabi Point carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,409 from Old Bar versus $8,809 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 $400 a year, $3,100 against $3,500.
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 | $24,209 | $24,609 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $74,828 | $76,064 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $128,529 | $130,653 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $277,529 | $282,115 | $4,586 |
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?
Old Bar is cheaper to run by car at $24,209 per year versus $24,609 for Wallabi Point, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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. Public transport costs $2,400 from Old Bar and $2,400 from Wallabi Point.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Old Bar and Wallabi Point?
At 3% annual cost growth, Old Bar costs a cumulative $277,529 and Wallabi Point costs $282,115 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,586 in favour of Old Bar. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Old Bar and Wallabi Point 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.