Eastwood vs Marsfield, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Eastwood and Marsfield are both Ryde rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 14.7 km and 14.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $177 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 $2,000, about $4 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Marsfield
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Eastwood | Marsfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,278 | $1,278 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,193 | $4,170 | +$23 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,386 | $2,386 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,500 | $1,700 | -$200 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,519 | $8,696 | -$177 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,712 | $6,912 | -$200 |
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 | Eastwood | Marsfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
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, Eastwood vs Marsfield (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Eastwood and Marsfield differ by $177 a year by car, but $200 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 $23, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $200 per year.
On public transport the gap is $200 per year, $6,712 from Eastwood versus $6,912 from Marsfield.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,278 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Marsfield by $23 a year, $4,170 against $4,193.
- Building insurance favours Eastwood by $200 a year, $1,500 against $1,700.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Marsfield against low in Eastwood, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Eastwood cumulative | Marsfield cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,519 | $8,696 | $177 |
| Year 3 | $26,331 | $26,878 | $547 |
| Year 5 | $45,229 | $46,168 | $939 |
| Year 10 | $97,661 | $99,690 | $2,029 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eastwood or Marsfield cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Eastwood runs $8,519 a year by car and Marsfield $8,696, but most of the $177 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $23. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Eastwood and Marsfield?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,278 in Eastwood (Ryde rates (OLG) and $1,278 in Marsfield (Ryde rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Eastwood and $1,548 in Marsfield. 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 Eastwood and Marsfield?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,193 from Eastwood and $4,170 from Marsfield to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,386 from Eastwood and $2,386 from Marsfield.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Eastwood and Marsfield?
At 3% annual cost growth, Eastwood costs a cumulative $97,661 and Marsfield costs $99,690 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,029 in favour of Eastwood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Eastwood and Marsfield suits you better?
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Sources: Ryde rates (OLG and Ryde 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.