Living in a house in Rose Bay costs about $7,582 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Rose Bay sits 5.5 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $8,512, with the $2,600 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $130 per year at this distance.
About $146 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$8,512
Incl. body corporate
$709/month
About $164 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$930
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Woollahra rates
$1,894
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Sydney Water
$1,548
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 5.5km from CBD · 192 days
$1,790
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire Low
$2,350
Body corporate
Estimated
$2,600
Total annual running cost
$7,582
($632/month, $146/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below.
↑ 11% above Woollahra average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.5/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 94% of Woollahra 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 Rose Bay'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 Rose Bay
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Rose Bay Wharf, 621 m away, about an 8 minute walk. It is a ferry stop.
Nearest hospital
Double Bay Day Hospital, 2,425 m away, about a 30 minute walk.
Supermarkets
5
Cafes
32
Parks
38
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 Rose Bay to the CBD?
Driving saves Rose Bay residents $130 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $1,790 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Rose Bay?
Rose Bay falls under Woollahra Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,894 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 $1,894 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Rose Bay?
Running a unit in Rose Bay costs approximately $8,512 per year by car or $8,642 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,894, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,600, and contents insurance of $680. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Rose Bay close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Rose Bay is Rose Bay Wharf, a ferry stop about 621 m away, about an 8 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 Rose Bay?
The closest hospital to the centre of Rose Bay is Double Bay Day Hospital, about 2,425 m away, about a 30 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 Rose Bay?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Rose Bay there are 5 supermarkets, 32 cafes and 38 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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Data sources: Council rates: Woollahra 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.