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 $644 a year cheaper than Fairfield East, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,382.
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 →Fairfield East
Old Guildford
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fairfield East | Old Guildford | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,589 | $5,395 | +$194 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,300 | $2,300 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,467 | $9,823 | +$644 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,278 | $6,828 | +$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 | 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
Old Guildford costs $644 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,382 in favour of Old Guildford.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Fairfield East carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,278 from Fairfield East versus $6,828 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 $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 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 | $10,467 | $9,823 | $644 |
| Year 3 | $32,352 | $30,362 | $1,990 |
| Year 5 | $55,571 | $52,152 | $3,419 |
| Year 10 | $119,992 | $112,610 | $7,382 |
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?
Old Guildford is cheaper to run by car at $9,823 per year versus $10,467 for Fairfield East, a difference of $644 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. 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 $119,992 and Old Guildford costs $112,610 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,382 in favour of Old Guildford. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fairfield East and Old Guildford 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.