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8.6 km from CBD
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True annual cost of living in Middle Cove, NSW 2068

Living in a house in Middle Cove costs about $8,083 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Middle Cove sits 8.6 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $8,683, with the $2,600 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $674 per year at this distance.

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

3 key insights
Costs 12% more to run than the Willoughby average, cheaper than only 17% of suburbs in the region.
Home insurance is the biggest expense at $2,600, roughly 32% of the annual total.
Switching from driving to public transport saves $674 a year.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
Lower cost
House annual cost
$8,083
Driving · per year
$674/month
Unit annual cost
$8,683
Incl. body corporate
$724/month
House vs unit difference
+$600
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Willoughby rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$1,341
Water & sewerage
Sydney Water 2026-27
$1,548
Driving commute
ATO 88c/km · 8.6km from CBD · 192 days
$2,594
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Medium · fire Medium
$2,600
Total annual running cost
$8,083
($674/month)
↑ 12% above Willoughby average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●○○○ 4.6/10 Poor
Cheaper to run than 17% of Willoughby 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 Middle Cove's climate zone at 2025 rates. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Compare Middle Cove with another suburb
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Middle Cove to the CBD?
Public transport saves Middle Cove residents $674 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $2,594 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Middle Cove?
Middle Cove falls under Willoughby Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,341 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 $1,341 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Middle Cove?
Running a unit in Middle Cove costs approximately $8,683 per year by car or $8,009 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,341, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,600, and contents insurance of $600. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.

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Data sources: Council rates: Willoughby 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.