St Leonards vs Wollstonecraft, 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 Leonards (Willoughby rates (OLG) and Wollstonecraft (North Sydney Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 23.3% in) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (5.3 km and 4.3 km).
Wollstonecraft runs $671 a year cheaper than St Leonards, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,692.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,700, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wollstonecraft
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | St Leonards | Wollstonecraft | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,341 | $1,327 | +$14 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,729 | $1,422 | +$307 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $3,500 | -$900 |
| Total (driving) | $6,468 | $5,797 | +$671 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,659 | $6,295 | +$364 |
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 Leonards | Wollstonecraft | 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 Leonards vs Wollstonecraft (2026-27)
What the numbers show
St Leonards and Wollstonecraft differ by $671 a year by car, but $350 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 $321, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $364 per year, $6,659 from St Leonards versus $6,295 from Wollstonecraft.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Wollstonecraft by $14 a year, $1,327 against $1,341.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Wollstonecraft by $307 a year, $1,422 against $1,729.
- Building insurance favours Wollstonecraft by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | St Leonards cumulative | Wollstonecraft cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,468 | $5,797 | $671 |
| Year 3 | $19,992 | $17,918 | $2,074 |
| Year 5 | $34,339 | $30,777 | $3,562 |
| Year 10 | $74,148 | $66,456 | $7,692 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Leonards or Wollstonecraft cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. St Leonards runs $6,468 a year by car and Wollstonecraft $5,797, but most of the $671 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $321. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in St Leonards and Wollstonecraft?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,341 in St Leonards (Willoughby rates (OLG) and $1,327 in Wollstonecraft (North Sydney Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 23.3% in). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in St Leonards and $1,548 in Wollstonecraft. 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 Leonards and Wollstonecraft?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,729 from St Leonards and $1,422 from Wollstonecraft to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from St Leonards and $1,920 from Wollstonecraft.
What is the 10-year cost difference between St Leonards and Wollstonecraft?
At 3% annual cost growth, St Leonards costs a cumulative $74,148 and Wollstonecraft costs $66,456 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,692 in favour of Wollstonecraft. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of St Leonards and Wollstonecraft suits you better?
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Sources: Willoughby rates (OLG and North Sydney Council rates (IPART approved SRV, 23.3% 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.