Alexandria vs Eveleigh: 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 Eveleigh are both Sydney rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 4.5 km and 3.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Eveleigh runs $1,029 a year cheaper than Alexandria, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,797.
Over 10 years, Eveleigh costs about $11,800 less to run than Alexandria — the same as paying $11,800 less for the home. It's the cost no listing shows you.
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Eveleigh
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Alexandria | Eveleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $924 | $924 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,484 | $1,105 | +$379 |
| 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 | $5,877 | +$1,029 |
| 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 | Eveleigh | 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 Eveleigh (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Eveleigh costs $1,029 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $11,797 in favour of Eveleigh.
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 Eveleigh.
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 Eveleigh by $379 a year, $1,105 against $1,484.
- Building insurance favours Eveleigh 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 Eveleigh, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 9.9 in Alexandria against 6.8 in Eveleigh, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Alexandria cumulative | Eveleigh cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,906 | $5,877 | $1,029 |
| Year 3 | $21,346 | $18,165 | $3,181 |
| Year 5 | $36,665 | $31,202 | $5,463 |
| Year 10 | $79,170 | $67,373 | $11,797 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alexandria or Eveleigh cheaper to live in?
Eveleigh is cheaper to run by car at $5,877 per year versus $6,906 for Alexandria, a difference of $1,029 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Alexandria and Eveleigh?
Annual council rates for a house are $924 in Alexandria (Sydney rates (OLG) and $924 in Eveleigh (Sydney rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Alexandria and $1,548 in Eveleigh. 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 Eveleigh?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,484 from Alexandria and $1,105 from Eveleigh to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Alexandria and $1,920 from Eveleigh.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Alexandria and Eveleigh?
At 3% annual cost growth, Alexandria costs a cumulative $79,170 and Eveleigh costs $67,373 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,797 in favour of Eveleigh. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Alexandria and Eveleigh 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.