Cabramatta vs Cabramatta West, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cabramatta and Cabramatta West are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 26 km and 27.8 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $143 a year of each other to run, so running cost is a minor factor here. The decision comes down to schools, risk and lifestyle, all in the free report.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $1,600, about $3 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Cabramatta West
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cabramatta | Cabramatta West | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,132 | $6,339 | -$207 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,950 | $1,600 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,660 | $10,517 | +$143 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,928 | $6,578 | +$350 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Cabramatta | Cabramatta West | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,720 | $2,720 | - |
| Unit | $2,209 | $2,209 | - |
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, Cabramatta vs Cabramatta West (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cabramatta and Cabramatta West differ by $143 a year by car, but $350 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $207, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Cabramatta carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $6,928 from Cabramatta versus $6,578 from Cabramatta West.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,030 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cabramatta by $207 a year, $6,132 against $6,339.
- Building insurance favours Cabramatta West by $350 a year, $1,600 against $1,950.
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 medium in Cabramatta against low in Cabramatta West, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6 in Cabramatta West against 4.8 in Cabramatta, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cabramatta cumulative | Cabramatta West cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,660 | $10,517 | $143 |
| Year 3 | $32,949 | $32,507 | $442 |
| Year 5 | $56,595 | $55,836 | $759 |
| Year 10 | $122,205 | $120,566 | $1,639 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cabramatta or Cabramatta West cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cabramatta runs $10,660 a year by car and Cabramatta West $10,517, but most of the $143 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $207. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cabramatta and Cabramatta West?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Cabramatta (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in Cabramatta West (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cabramatta and $1,548 in Cabramatta West. 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 Cabramatta and Cabramatta West?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,132 from Cabramatta and $6,339 from Cabramatta West to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cabramatta and $2,400 from Cabramatta West.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cabramatta and Cabramatta West?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cabramatta costs a cumulative $122,205 and Cabramatta West costs $120,566 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,639 in favour of Cabramatta West. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cabramatta and Cabramatta West suits you better?
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Sources: Fairfield rates (OLG and Fairfield rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.