Cartwright vs Prestons: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Cartwright and Prestons are both Liverpool rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 30.4 km and 31.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Prestons runs $334 a year cheaper than Cartwright, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,829.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Cartwright
Prestons
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Cartwright | Prestons | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,376 | $1,376 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,586 | $6,702 | -$116 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,810 | $11,476 | +$334 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,624 | $7,174 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Cartwright | Prestons | 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 — Cartwright vs Prestons (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Prestons costs $334 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,829 in favour of Prestons.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Cartwright carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,624 from Cartwright versus $7,174 from Prestons.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,376 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Cartwright by $116 a year, $6,586 against $6,702.
- Building insurance favours Prestons by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
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 Cartwright against low in Prestons, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.3 in Prestons against 4 in Cartwright, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Cartwright cumulative | Prestons cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,810 | $11,476 | $334 |
| Year 3 | $36,504 | $35,471 | $1,033 |
| Year 5 | $62,701 | $60,928 | $1,773 |
| Year 10 | $135,388 | $131,559 | $3,829 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cartwright or Prestons cheaper to live in?
Prestons is cheaper to run by car at $11,476 per year versus $11,810 for Cartwright, a difference of $334 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Cartwright and Prestons?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,376 in Cartwright (Liverpool rates (OLG) and $1,376 in Prestons (Liverpool rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Cartwright and $1,548 in Prestons. 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 Cartwright and Prestons?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,586 from Cartwright and $6,702 from Prestons to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Cartwright and $2,400 from Prestons.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Cartwright and Prestons?
At 3% annual cost growth, Cartwright costs a cumulative $135,388 and Prestons costs $131,559 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,829 in favour of Prestons. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Cartwright and Prestons is best to actually live in?
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: Liverpool rates (OLG and Liverpool rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.