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7.7 km from CBD
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True annual cost of living in Willoughby East, NSW 2068

Living in a house in Willoughby East costs about $7,091 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Willoughby East sits 7.7 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $8,271, with the $2,600 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $432 per year at this distance.

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

3 key insights
Running costs sit near the Willoughby average, cheaper than 58% of suburbs in the region.
The commute is the biggest expense at $2,352, roughly 33% of the annual total.
Switching from driving to public transport saves $432 a year.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
Lower cost
House annual cost
$7,091
Driving · per year
$591/month
Unit annual cost
$8,271
Incl. body corporate
$689/month
House vs unit difference
+$1,180
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 · 7.7km from CBD · 192 days
$2,352
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Low · fire Low
$1,850
Total annual running cost
$7,091
($591/month)
Near Willoughby average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○ 7.8/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 58% 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 Willoughby East's climate zone at 2025 rates. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Compare Willoughby East with another suburb
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Willoughby East to the CBD?
Public transport saves Willoughby East residents $432 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $2,352 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Willoughby East?
Willoughby East 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 Willoughby East?
Running a unit in Willoughby East costs approximately $8,271 per year by car or $7,839 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 $430. 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.