Fairfield vs Liverpool, 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 (Fairfield rates (OLG) and Liverpool (Liverpool rates (OLG) attract comparison from buyers considering suburbs across different council areas at similar distances from Sydney CBD (23.5 km and 27.9 km).
The two sit within $296 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 $3,400, about $7 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Liverpool
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Fairfield | Liverpool | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,030 | $1,376 | -$346 |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $5,799 | $6,349 | -$550 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,450 | $1,850 | +$600 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,300 | $2,100 | +$200 |
| Total (driving) | $10,827 | $11,123 | -$296 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,428 | $7,174 | +$254 |
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 | Liverpool | 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 vs Liverpool (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fairfield and Liverpool differ by $296 a year by car, but $600 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 $896, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $600 per year. Fairfield carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $254 per year, $7,428 from Fairfield versus $7,174 from Liverpool.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates favours Fairfield by $346 a year, $1,030 against $1,376.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Fairfield by $550 a year, $5,799 against $6,349.
- Building insurance favours Liverpool by $600 a year, $1,850 against $2,450.
They sit in different council areas, so the rates line is set by two different councils. For NSW that figure is the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by that council's IPART rate peg.
Flood risk is rated high in Fairfield against medium in Liverpool, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.4 in Liverpool against 3.5 in Fairfield, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Fairfield cumulative | Liverpool cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,827 | $11,123 | $296 |
| Year 3 | $33,465 | $34,380 | $915 |
| Year 5 | $57,482 | $59,054 | $1,572 |
| Year 10 | $124,119 | $127,513 | $3,394 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fairfield or Liverpool cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Fairfield runs $10,827 a year by car and Liverpool $11,123, but most of the $296 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $896. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Fairfield and Liverpool?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Fairfield (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,376 in Liverpool (Liverpool rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Fairfield and $1,548 in Liverpool. 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 and Liverpool?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,799 from Fairfield and $6,349 from Liverpool to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Fairfield and $2,400 from Liverpool.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Fairfield and Liverpool?
At 3% annual cost growth, Fairfield costs a cumulative $124,119 and Liverpool costs $127,513 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,394 in favour of Fairfield. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Fairfield and Liverpool suits you better?
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.
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Sources: Fairfield 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 insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.