Leichhardt vs Lilyfield, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Leichhardt and Lilyfield are both Inner West rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 5 km and 4.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $215 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 $2,500, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Lilyfield
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Leichhardt | Lilyfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,401 | $1,401 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,638 | $1,453 | +$185 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,450 | $1,850 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,600 | $3,500 | -$900 |
| Total (driving) | $6,037 | $6,252 | -$215 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,319 | $6,719 | -$400 |
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 | Leichhardt | Lilyfield | 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, Leichhardt vs Lilyfield (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Leichhardt and Lilyfield differ by $215 a year by car, but $400 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 $185, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Lilyfield carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $6,319 from Leichhardt versus $6,719 from Lilyfield.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,401 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lilyfield by $185 a year, $1,453 against $1,638.
- Building insurance favours Leichhardt by $400 a year, $1,450 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 high in Lilyfield against medium in Leichhardt, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Leichhardt cumulative | Lilyfield cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,037 | $6,252 | $215 |
| Year 3 | $18,660 | $19,324 | $664 |
| Year 5 | $32,051 | $33,193 | $1,142 |
| Year 10 | $69,207 | $71,672 | $2,465 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leichhardt or Lilyfield cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Leichhardt runs $6,037 a year by car and Lilyfield $6,252, but most of the $215 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $185. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Leichhardt and Lilyfield?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,401 in Leichhardt (Inner West rates (OLG) and $1,401 in Lilyfield (Inner West rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Leichhardt and $1,548 in Lilyfield. 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 Leichhardt and Lilyfield?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,638 from Leichhardt and $1,453 from Lilyfield to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Leichhardt and $1,920 from Lilyfield.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Leichhardt and Lilyfield?
At 3% annual cost growth, Leichhardt costs a cumulative $69,207 and Lilyfield costs $71,672 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,465 in favour of Leichhardt. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Leichhardt and Lilyfield suits you better?
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Sources: Inner West rates (OLG and Inner West 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.