True annual cost of living in Duffys Forest, NSW 2084
Living in a house in Duffys Forest costs about $10,342 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Duffys Forest sits 21.4 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $11,582, with the $2,300 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. At 21.4km from the CBD, transport mode shifts the annual total by $3,078. The gap widens as commute costs rise.
About $199 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$11,582
Incl. body corporate
$965/month
About $223 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$1,240
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Northern Beaches rates
$1,766
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Sydney Water
$1,548
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 21.4km from CBD · 192 days
$5,478
Home insurance
Estimated flood Low · fire Medium
$1,550
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,300
Total annual running cost
$10,342
($862/month, $199/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
Near Northern Beaches average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.4/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 78% of Northern Beaches suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$2,342/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,909/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Duffys Forest's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for its electricity network. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Getting around Duffys Forest
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Mount Kuring-gai, 5,492 m away, about a 69 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Wyvern Private Hospital, 3,205 m away, about a 40 minute walk.
Supermarkets
0
Cafes
0
Parks
0
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-11-03. Distances are straight line from that centre, so a specific address can be closer or further. Mapping is contributed and can lag a new opening.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Duffys Forest to the CBD?
Public transport saves Duffys Forest residents $3,078 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $5,478 versus $2,400 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Duffys Forest?
Duffys Forest falls under Northern Beaches Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,766 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 $1,766 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Duffys Forest?
Running a unit in Duffys Forest costs approximately $11,582 per year by car or $8,504 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,766, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,300, and contents insurance of $490. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Duffys Forest close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Duffys Forest is Mount Kuring-gai, a train stop about 5,492 m away, about a 69 minute walk. That is measured from the suburb centre, so an individual address can be nearer or further. The commute figure used in the running cost on this page assumes driving, not this service.
What is the closest hospital to Duffys Forest?
The closest hospital to the centre of Duffys Forest is Wyvern Private Hospital, about 3,205 m away, about a 40 minute walk. Distance is straight line from the suburb centre and does not account for the road route or whether the hospital has an emergency department.
What shops and parks are in Duffys Forest?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Duffys Forest there are 0 supermarkets, 0 cafes and 0 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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10-year cost projection
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Data sources: Council rates: Northern Beaches rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Sydney Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: estimated from ACCC 2026 premium rates for the area's cyclone risk on a standard $600,000 home, adjusted for flood and fire, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data last verified September 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.