Canley Heights vs St Johns Park, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Canley Heights and St Johns Park are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 26.5 km and 28.2 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $163 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 $1,900, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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St Johns Park
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Canley Heights | St Johns Park | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,193 | $6,380 | -$187 |
| 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) | $10,721 | $10,558 | +$163 |
| 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 | Canley Heights | St Johns Park | 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, Canley Heights vs St Johns Park (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Canley Heights and St Johns Park differ by $163 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 $187, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Canley Heights carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $6,928 from Canley Heights versus $6,578 from St Johns Park.
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 Canley Heights by $187 a year, $6,193 against $6,380.
- Building insurance favours St Johns Park 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 Canley Heights against low in St Johns Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.6 in St Johns Park against 4.4 in Canley Heights, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Canley Heights cumulative | St Johns Park cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,721 | $10,558 | $163 |
| Year 3 | $33,138 | $32,634 | $504 |
| Year 5 | $56,919 | $56,054 | $865 |
| Year 10 | $122,904 | $121,036 | $1,868 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Canley Heights or St Johns Park cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Canley Heights runs $10,721 a year by car and St Johns Park $10,558, but most of the $163 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $187. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Canley Heights and St Johns Park?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Canley Heights (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in St Johns Park (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Canley Heights and $1,548 in St Johns Park. 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 Canley Heights and St Johns Park?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,193 from Canley Heights and $6,380 from St Johns Park to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Canley Heights and $2,400 from St Johns Park.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Canley Heights and St Johns Park?
At 3% annual cost growth, Canley Heights costs a cumulative $122,904 and St Johns Park costs $121,036 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,868 in favour of St Johns Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Canley Heights and St Johns Park 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.