Fairfield East vs Old Guildford, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Fairfield East and Old Guildford are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 22.1 km and 20.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Old Guildford runs $544 a year cheaper than Fairfield East, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,237.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $6,200, about $12 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Old Guildford
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fairfield East | Old Guildford | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,589 | $5,395 | +$194 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,500 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,017 | $9,473 | +$544 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,828 | $6,478 | +$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 | Fairfield East | Old Guildford | 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, Fairfield East vs Old Guildford (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fairfield East and Old Guildford differ by $544 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 $194, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Fairfield East carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $6,828 from Fairfield East versus $6,478 from Old Guildford.
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 Old Guildford by $194 a year, $5,395 against $5,589.
- Building insurance favours Old Guildford by $350 a year, $1,500 against $1,850.
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 Fairfield East against low in Old Guildford, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fairfield East cumulative | Old Guildford cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,017 | $9,473 | $544 |
| Year 3 | $30,962 | $29,280 | $1,682 |
| Year 5 | $53,182 | $50,293 | $2,889 |
| Year 10 | $114,834 | $108,597 | $6,237 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fairfield East or Old Guildford cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Fairfield East runs $10,017 a year by car and Old Guildford $9,473, but most of the $544 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $194. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fairfield East and Old Guildford?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Fairfield East (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in Old Guildford (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Fairfield East and $1,548 in Old Guildford. 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 Fairfield East and Old Guildford?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,589 from Fairfield East and $5,395 from Old Guildford to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Fairfield East and $2,400 from Old Guildford.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fairfield East and Old Guildford?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fairfield East costs a cumulative $114,834 and Old Guildford costs $108,597 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,237 in favour of Old Guildford. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fairfield East and Old Guildford 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.