Carramar vs Lansvale, 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 Lansvale are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 22.7 km and 23.1 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $160 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 $1,800, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Lansvale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Carramar | Lansvale | 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 | $5,741 | -$60 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,350 | $2,450 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,609 | $10,769 | -$160 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,328 | $7,428 | -$100 |
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 | Lansvale | 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 Lansvale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Carramar and Lansvale differ by $160 a year by car, but $100 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 $60, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $100 per year. Lansvale carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,328 and $7,428 a year, so the $160 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Carramar by $60 a year, $5,681 against $5,741.
- Building insurance favours Carramar by $100 a year, $2,350 against $2,450.
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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Carramar cumulative | Lansvale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,609 | $10,769 | $160 |
| Year 3 | $32,791 | $33,286 | $495 |
| Year 5 | $56,325 | $57,174 | $849 |
| Year 10 | $121,620 | $123,455 | $1,835 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carramar or Lansvale cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Carramar runs $10,609 a year by car and Lansvale $10,769, but most of the $160 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $60. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Carramar and Lansvale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Carramar (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in Lansvale (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Carramar and $1,548 in Lansvale. 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 Lansvale?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,681 from Carramar and $5,741 from Lansvale to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Carramar and $2,400 from Lansvale.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Carramar and Lansvale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Carramar costs a cumulative $121,620 and Lansvale costs $123,455 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $1,835 in favour of Carramar. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Carramar and Lansvale 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.