Randwick vs South Coogee, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Randwick and South Coogee are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6.2 km and 8.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Randwick runs $601 a year cheaper than South Coogee, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,890.
Over 10 years, Randwick costs about $6,900 less to run than South Coogee. That's about $13 a week.
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South Coogee
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Randwick | South Coogee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,999 | $2,600 | -$601 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,770 | $7,371 | -$601 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,691 | $6,691 | - |
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 | Randwick | South Coogee | 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, Randwick vs South Coogee (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Randwick costs $601 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,890 in favour of Randwick.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $601 per year. South Coogee is 8.3 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $6,691 and $6,691 a year, so the $601 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Randwick by $601 a year, $1,999 against $2,600.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,500 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 9.9 in Randwick against 8.4 in South Coogee, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Randwick cumulative | South Coogee cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,770 | $7,371 | $601 |
| Year 3 | $20,925 | $22,783 | $1,858 |
| Year 5 | $35,943 | $39,134 | $3,191 |
| Year 10 | $77,610 | $84,500 | $6,890 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Randwick or South Coogee cheaper to live in?
Randwick is cheaper to run by car at $6,770 per year versus $7,371 for South Coogee, a difference of $601 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Randwick and South Coogee?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Randwick (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in South Coogee (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Randwick and $1,548 in South Coogee. 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 Randwick and South Coogee?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,999 from Randwick and $2,600 from South Coogee to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Randwick and $1,920 from South Coogee.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Randwick and South Coogee?
At 3% annual cost growth, Randwick costs a cumulative $77,610 and South Coogee costs $84,500 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,890 in favour of Randwick. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Randwick and South Coogee suits you better?
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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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.