Carramar vs Fairfield East, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Carramar and Fairfield East are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 22.7 km and 22.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Fairfield East runs $592 a year cheaper than Carramar, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,786.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,800, about $13 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan → Neither quite right? Find the Sydney suburbs that fit your budget →Carramar
Fairfield East
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Carramar | Fairfield East | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,681 | $5,589 | +$92 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $1,850 | +$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,609 | $10,017 | +$592 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,328 | $6,828 | +$500 |
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 | Carramar | Fairfield East | 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, Carramar vs Fairfield East (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Carramar and Fairfield East differ by $592 a year by car, but $500 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 $92, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $500 per year. Carramar carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $500 per year, $7,328 from Carramar versus $6,828 from Fairfield East.
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 Fairfield East by $92 a year, $5,589 against $5,681.
- Building insurance favours Fairfield East by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 Carramar against medium in Fairfield East, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Carramar cumulative | Fairfield East cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,609 | $10,017 | $592 |
| Year 3 | $32,791 | $30,962 | $1,829 |
| Year 5 | $56,325 | $53,182 | $3,143 |
| Year 10 | $121,620 | $114,834 | $6,786 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carramar or Fairfield East cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Carramar runs $10,609 a year by car and Fairfield East $10,017, but most of the $592 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $92. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Carramar and Fairfield East?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Carramar (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in Fairfield East (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Carramar and $1,548 in Fairfield East. 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 Carramar and Fairfield East?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,681 from Carramar and $5,589 from Fairfield East to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Carramar and $2,400 from Fairfield East.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Carramar and Fairfield East?
At 3% annual cost growth, Carramar costs a cumulative $121,620 and Fairfield East costs $114,834 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,786 in favour of Fairfield East. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Carramar and Fairfield East suits you better?
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: 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.