Alexandria vs Beaconsfield: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Alexandria and Beaconsfield are both Sydney rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 4.5 km and 4.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Beaconsfield runs $557 a year cheaper than Alexandria, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,386.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Alexandria
Beaconsfield
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Alexandria | Beaconsfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $924 | $924 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,484 | $1,577 | -$93 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,950 | $2,300 | +$650 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $3,500 | $3,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,906 | $6,349 | +$557 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,342 | $6,692 | +$650 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Alexandria | Beaconsfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Alexandria vs Beaconsfield (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Beaconsfield costs $557 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,386 in favour of Beaconsfield.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $650 per year. Alexandria carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $650 per year, $7,342 from Alexandria versus $6,692 from Beaconsfield.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $924 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Alexandria by $93 a year, $1,484 against $1,577.
- Building insurance favours Beaconsfield by $650 a year, $2,300 against $2,950.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Alexandria against medium in Beaconsfield, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Alexandria cumulative | Beaconsfield cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,906 | $6,349 | $557 |
| Year 3 | $21,346 | $19,624 | $1,722 |
| Year 5 | $36,665 | $33,708 | $2,957 |
| Year 10 | $79,170 | $72,784 | $6,386 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alexandria or Beaconsfield cheaper to live in?
Beaconsfield is cheaper to run by car at $6,349 per year versus $6,906 for Alexandria, a difference of $557 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Alexandria and Beaconsfield?
Annual council rates for a house are $924 in Alexandria (Sydney rates (OLG) and $924 in Beaconsfield (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Alexandria and $1,548 in Beaconsfield. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Alexandria and Beaconsfield?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,484 from Alexandria and $1,577 from Beaconsfield to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Alexandria and $1,920 from Beaconsfield.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Alexandria and Beaconsfield?
At 3% annual cost growth, Alexandria costs a cumulative $79,170 and Beaconsfield costs $72,784 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,386 in favour of Beaconsfield. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Alexandria and Beaconsfield is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Sydney rates (OLG and Sydney rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.