St Ives vs St Ives Chase, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
St Ives and St Ives Chase are both Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in suburbs, sitting 15.8 km and 18.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
St Ives runs $907 a year cheaper than St Ives Chase, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,398.
Over 10 years, St Ives costs about $10,400 less to run than St Ives Chase. That's about $20 a week.
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St Ives Chase
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | St Ives | St Ives Chase | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $2,189 | $2,189 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,431 | $4,988 | -$557 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,200 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,018 | $10,925 | -$907 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,973 | $8,323 | -$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 | St Ives | St Ives Chase | 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, St Ives vs St Ives Chase (2026-27)
What the numbers show
St Ives costs $907 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $10,398 in favour of St Ives.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $557 per year. St Ives Chase is 18.6 km from Sydney CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,973 from St Ives versus $8,323 from St Ives Chase.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $2,189 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours St Ives by $557 a year, $4,431 against $4,988.
- Building insurance favours St Ives by $350 a year, $1,850 against $2,200.
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 high in St Ives Chase against medium in St Ives, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 10 in St Ives Chase against 8.8 in St Ives, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | St Ives cumulative | St Ives Chase cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,018 | $10,925 | $907 |
| Year 3 | $30,965 | $33,768 | $2,803 |
| Year 5 | $53,187 | $58,002 | $4,815 |
| Year 10 | $114,845 | $125,243 | $10,398 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Ives or St Ives Chase cheaper to live in?
St Ives is cheaper to run by car at $10,018 per year versus $10,925 for St Ives Chase, a difference of $907 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in St Ives and St Ives Chase?
Annual council rates for a house are $2,189 in St Ives (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in) and $2,189 in St Ives Chase (Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in St Ives and $1,548 in St Ives Chase. 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 St Ives and St Ives Chase?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,431 from St Ives and $4,988 from St Ives Chase to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from St Ives and $2,386 from St Ives Chase.
What is the 10-year cost difference between St Ives and St Ives Chase?
At 3% annual cost growth, St Ives costs a cumulative $114,845 and St Ives Chase costs $125,243 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,398 in favour of St Ives. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of St Ives and St Ives Chase suits you better?
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Sources: Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in and Ku-ring-gai Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 29% in 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.