Prairiewood vs Wakeley, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Prairiewood and Wakeley are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 28.4 km and 27.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
The two sit within $245 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 $2,800, about $5 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Wakeley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Prairiewood | Wakeley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,401 | $6,296 | +$105 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,600 | $1,950 | -$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,579 | $10,824 | -$245 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,578 | $6,928 | -$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 | Prairiewood | Wakeley | 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, Prairiewood vs Wakeley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Prairiewood and Wakeley differ by $245 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 $105, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year. Wakeley carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $6,578 from Prairiewood versus $6,928 from Wakeley.
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 Wakeley by $105 a year, $6,296 against $6,401.
- Building insurance favours Prairiewood by $350 a year, $1,600 against $1,950.
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 Wakeley against low in Prairiewood, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.6 in Wakeley against 3.4 in Prairiewood, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Prairiewood cumulative | Wakeley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,579 | $10,824 | $245 |
| Year 3 | $32,699 | $33,456 | $757 |
| Year 5 | $56,165 | $57,466 | $1,301 |
| Year 10 | $121,276 | $124,085 | $2,809 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prairiewood or Wakeley cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Prairiewood runs $10,579 a year by car and Wakeley $10,824, but most of the $245 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $105. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Prairiewood and Wakeley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in Prairiewood (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in Wakeley (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Prairiewood and $1,548 in Wakeley. 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 Prairiewood and Wakeley?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,401 from Prairiewood and $6,296 from Wakeley to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Prairiewood and $2,400 from Wakeley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Prairiewood and Wakeley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Prairiewood costs a cumulative $121,276 and Wakeley costs $124,085 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $2,809 in favour of Prairiewood. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Prairiewood and Wakeley 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.