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3.8 km from CBD
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True annual cost of living in Woollahra, NSW 2025

Living in a house in Woollahra costs about $6,557 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Woollahra sits 3.8 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $8,637, with the $3,500 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Transport mode has the biggest effect on total cost in a suburb this close to the city.

Last updated July 2026 · Woollahra Council rates 2026-27, ATO 91c/km, AER electricity benchmarks

3 key insights

Cheaper to run than 90% of Woollahra suburbs, about 11% below the regional average.
Council rates is the biggest expense at $1,894, roughly 29% of the annual total.
Switching from driving to public transport saves $655 a year.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
Lower cost
House annual cost
$6,557
Driving · per year
$546/month
Unit annual cost
$8,637
Incl. body corporate
$720/month
House vs unit difference
+$2,080
Unit costs more per year

Annual cost breakdown

Council rates
Woollahra rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$1,894
Water & sewerage
Sydney Water 2026-27
$1,548
Driving commute
ATO 91c/km · 3.8km from CBD · 192 days
$1,265
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Low · fire Low
$1,850
Total annual running cost
$6,557
($546/month)
↓ 11% below Woollahra average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●● 9.5/10 Excellent
Cheaper to run than 90% 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 Woollahra'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 Woollahra

within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Bondi Junction, 652 m away, about an 8 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Wolper Jewish Hospital, 418 m away, about a 5 minute walk.
Supermarkets
16
Cafes
99
Parks
63
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-08-07. 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.

Compare Woollahra with another suburb

Frequently asked questions about Woollahra

Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Woollahra to the CBD?

Driving saves Woollahra residents $655 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $1,265 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.

What are the council rates in Woollahra?

Woollahra 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 Woollahra?

Running a unit in Woollahra costs approximately $8,637 per year by car or $9,292 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,894, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $3,500, and contents insurance of $430. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.

Is Woollahra close to public transport?

The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Woollahra is Bondi Junction, a train stop about 652 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 Woollahra?

The closest hospital to the centre of Woollahra is Wolper Jewish Hospital, about 418 m away, about a 5 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 Woollahra?

Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Woollahra there are 16 supermarkets, 99 cafes and 63 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: 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.