Burwood Heights vs Enfield: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Burwood Heights and Enfield are both Burwood rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 9.9 km and 10.7 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Burwood Heights runs $658 a year cheaper than Enfield, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,543.
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 →Burwood Heights
Enfield
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Burwood Heights | Enfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,731 | $1,731 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $3,031 | $3,239 | -$208 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $2,386 | -$466 |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,300 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,160 | $8,818 | -$658 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,049 | $7,965 | -$916 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Burwood Heights | Enfield | 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 — Burwood Heights vs Enfield (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Burwood Heights costs $658 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,543 in favour of Burwood Heights.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Enfield carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $916 per year, $7,049 from Burwood Heights versus $7,965 from Enfield.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,731 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Burwood Heights by $208 a year, $3,031 against $3,239.
- Building insurance favours Burwood Heights by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
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 medium in Enfield against low in Burwood Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Burwood Heights cumulative | Enfield cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,160 | $8,818 | $658 |
| Year 3 | $25,222 | $27,256 | $2,034 |
| Year 5 | $43,323 | $46,816 | $3,493 |
| Year 10 | $93,545 | $101,088 | $7,543 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burwood Heights or Enfield cheaper to live in?
Burwood Heights is cheaper to run by car at $8,160 per year versus $8,818 for Enfield, a difference of $658 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Burwood Heights and Enfield?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,731 in Burwood Heights (Burwood rates (OLG) and $1,731 in Enfield (Burwood rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Burwood Heights and $1,548 in Enfield. 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 Burwood Heights and Enfield?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,031 from Burwood Heights and $3,239 from Enfield to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Burwood Heights and $2,386 from Enfield.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Burwood Heights and Enfield?
At 3% annual cost growth, Burwood Heights costs a cumulative $93,545 and Enfield costs $101,088 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,543 in favour of Burwood Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Burwood Heights and Enfield 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: Burwood rates (OLG and Burwood 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.