Coombabah vs Runaway Bay.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $932,500 and $1,655,000. Runaway Bay edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Coombabah (median $932,500) is roughly 44% cheaper to buy into than Runaway Bay ($1,655,000).
Runaway Bay scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 28/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Runaway Bay (1040) sits above Coombabah (1025).
For buyers
Coombabah is the lower entry point at $932,500 median, 44% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Coombabah offers the higher gross rental yield (4.18% vs 3.77%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Runaway Bay edges out on average school ICSEA (1040 vs 1025).
Common questions
Is Coombabah or Runaway Bay cheaper to buy in?
Coombabah has the lower median house price at $932,500, roughly 44% below Runaway Bay ($1,655,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Coombabah or Runaway Bay have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Runaway Bay scores 1040 vs 1025 in Coombabah. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Coombabah or Runaway Bay?
Runaway Bay scores 28/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Coombabah or Runaway Bay?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.18% in Coombabah vs 3.77% in Runaway Bay. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Coombabah against another suburb