Cabramatta West vs Mount Pritchard, 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 West and Mount Pritchard are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 27.8 km and 28.5 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Cabramatta West runs $422 a year cheaper than Mount Pritchard, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,837.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,800, about $9 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Mount Pritchard
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cabramatta West | Mount Pritchard | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,339 | $6,411 | -$72 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,950 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,517 | $10,939 | -$422 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,578 | $6,928 | -$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 West | Mount Pritchard | 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 West vs Mount Pritchard (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Cabramatta West and Mount Pritchard differ by $422 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 $72, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Mount Pritchard carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $6,578 from Cabramatta West versus $6,928 from Mount Pritchard.
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 West by $72 a year, $6,339 against $6,411.
- 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 Mount Pritchard against low in Cabramatta West, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6 in Cabramatta West against 4.8 in Mount Pritchard, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cabramatta West cumulative | Mount Pritchard cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,517 | $10,939 | $422 |
| Year 3 | $32,507 | $33,811 | $1,304 |
| Year 5 | $55,836 | $58,077 | $2,241 |
| Year 10 | $120,566 | $125,403 | $4,837 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cabramatta West or Mount Pritchard cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Cabramatta West runs $10,517 a year by car and Mount Pritchard $10,939, but most of the $422 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $72. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cabramatta West and Mount Pritchard?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Cabramatta West (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in Mount Pritchard (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cabramatta West and $1,548 in Mount Pritchard. 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 West and Mount Pritchard?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,339 from Cabramatta West and $6,411 from Mount Pritchard to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cabramatta West and $2,400 from Mount Pritchard.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cabramatta West and Mount Pritchard?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cabramatta West costs a cumulative $120,566 and Mount Pritchard costs $125,403 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,837 in favour of Cabramatta West. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cabramatta West and Mount Pritchard 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.