Point Clare vs Point Frederick, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Point Clare and Point Frederick are both Central Coast rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 49.1 km and 48.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $177 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $2,000, about $4 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 →Point Clare
Point Frederick
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Point Clare | Point Frederick | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,454 | $1,454 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,627 | $6,650 | -$23 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,000 | $1,800 | +$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,381 | $11,204 | +$177 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,154 | $6,954 | +$200 |
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 | Point Clare | Point Frederick | 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, Point Clare vs Point Frederick (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Point Clare and Point Frederick differ by $177 a year by car, but $200 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 $23, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year. Point Clare carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $7,154 from Point Clare versus $6,954 from Point Frederick.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,454 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Point Clare by $23 a year, $6,627 against $6,650.
- Building insurance favours Point Frederick by $200 a year, $1,800 against $2,000.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Point Clare against low in Point Frederick, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.5 in Point Clare against 6.4 in Point Frederick, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Point Clare cumulative | Point Frederick cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,381 | $11,204 | $177 |
| Year 3 | $35,178 | $34,630 | $548 |
| Year 5 | $60,423 | $59,484 | $939 |
| Year 10 | $130,470 | $128,441 | $2,029 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Point Clare or Point Frederick cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Point Clare runs $11,381 a year by car and Point Frederick $11,204, but most of the $177 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $23. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Point Clare and Point Frederick?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,454 in Point Clare (Central Coast rates (OLG) and $1,454 in Point Frederick (Central Coast rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Point Clare and $1,300 in Point Frederick. 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 Point Clare and Point Frederick?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,627 from Point Clare and $6,650 from Point Frederick to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Point Clare and $2,400 from Point Frederick.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Point Clare and Point Frederick?
At 3% annual cost growth, Point Clare costs a cumulative $130,470 and Point Frederick costs $128,441 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,029 in favour of Point Frederick. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Point Clare and Point Frederick 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: Central Coast rates (OLG and Central 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.