Rose Bay vs Vaucluse: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Rose Bay and Vaucluse are both Woollahra rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 5.5 km and 6.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Vaucluse runs $412 a year cheaper than Rose Bay, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,723.
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 →Rose Bay
Vaucluse
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Rose Bay | Vaucluse | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,894 | $1,894 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,790 | $2,028 | -$238 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $2,300 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,182 | $7,770 | +$412 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,312 | $7,662 | +$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Rose Bay | Vaucluse | 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 — Rose Bay vs Vaucluse (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Vaucluse costs $412 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,723 in favour of Vaucluse.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Rose Bay carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $8,312 from Rose Bay versus $7,662 from Vaucluse.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,894 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Rose Bay by $238 a year, $1,790 against $2,028.
- Building insurance favours Vaucluse by $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
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 Rose Bay against medium in Vaucluse, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Rose Bay cumulative | Vaucluse cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,182 | $7,770 | $412 |
| Year 3 | $25,290 | $24,016 | $1,274 |
| Year 5 | $43,439 | $41,252 | $2,187 |
| Year 10 | $93,797 | $89,074 | $4,723 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rose Bay or Vaucluse cheaper to live in?
Vaucluse is cheaper to run by car at $7,770 per year versus $8,182 for Rose Bay, a difference of $412 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Rose Bay and Vaucluse?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,894 in Rose Bay (Woollahra rates (OLG) and $1,894 in Vaucluse (Woollahra rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Rose Bay and $1,548 in Vaucluse. 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 Rose Bay and Vaucluse?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,790 from Rose Bay and $2,028 from Vaucluse to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Rose Bay and $1,920 from Vaucluse.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Rose Bay and Vaucluse?
At 3% annual cost growth, Rose Bay costs a cumulative $93,797 and Vaucluse costs $89,074 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,723 in favour of Vaucluse. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Rose Bay and Vaucluse 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.
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Sources: Woollahra rates (OLG and Woollahra 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.