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True annual cost of living in Bondi Beach, NSW 2026

Living in a house in Bondi Beach costs about $7,210 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Bondi Beach sits 6.5 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $8,040, with the $2,600 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $98 per year at this distance.

Last updated July 2026 · Waverley Council rates 2026-27, ATO 88c/km, AER electricity benchmarks

3 key insights
Running costs sit near the Waverley average, cheaper than 44% of suburbs in the region.
Home insurance is the biggest expense at $2,300, roughly 32% of the annual total.
Switching from driving to public transport saves $98 a year.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
Lower cost
House annual cost
$7,210
Driving · per year
$601/month
Unit annual cost
$8,040
Incl. body corporate
$670/month
House vs unit difference
+$830
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Waverley rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$1,344
Water & sewerage
Sydney Water 2026-27
$1,548
Driving commute
ATO 88c/km · 6.5km from CBD · 192 days
$2,018
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Medium · fire Low
$2,300
Total annual running cost
$7,210
($601/month)
Near Waverley average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○ 5.8/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 44% of Waverley suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost typical 2-person household
House
$2,148/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,716/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Bondi Beach's climate zone at 2025 rates. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Compare Bondi Beach with another suburb
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Bondi Beach to the CBD?
Public transport saves Bondi Beach residents $98 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $2,018 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Bondi Beach?
Bondi Beach falls under Waverley Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,344 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,344 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Bondi Beach?
Running a unit in Bondi Beach costs approximately $8,040 per year by car or $7,942 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,344, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,600, and contents insurance of $530. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.

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Data sources: Council rates: Waverley rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Sydney Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2025–26 (88c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07.
Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.