St Johns Park 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
St Johns Park and Wakeley are both Fairfield rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 28.2 km and 27.4 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
St Johns Park runs $366 a year cheaper than Wakeley, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,195.
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 →St Johns Park
Wakeley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | St Johns Park | Wakeley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,030 | $1,030 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,380 | $6,296 | +$84 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $1,850 | $2,300 | -$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,808 | $11,174 | -$366 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,828 | $7,278 | -$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 | St Johns Park | 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 — St Johns Park vs Wakeley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
St Johns Park costs $366 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,195 in favour of St Johns Park.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Wakeley carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $6,828 from St Johns Park versus $7,278 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 $84 a year, $6,296 against $6,380.
- Building insurance favours St Johns Park 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 Wakeley against low in St Johns Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 6.6 in St Johns Park against 5.6 in Wakeley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | St Johns Park cumulative | Wakeley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,808 | $11,174 | $366 |
| Year 3 | $33,406 | $34,538 | $1,132 |
| Year 5 | $57,381 | $59,324 | $1,943 |
| Year 10 | $123,902 | $128,097 | $4,195 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is St Johns Park or Wakeley cheaper to live in?
St Johns Park is cheaper to run by car at $10,808 per year versus $11,174 for Wakeley, a difference of $366 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in St Johns Park and Wakeley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,030 in St Johns Park (Fairfield rates (OLG) and $1,030 in Wakeley (Fairfield rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in St Johns Park 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 St Johns Park and Wakeley?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,380 from St Johns Park and $6,296 from Wakeley to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from St Johns Park and $2,400 from Wakeley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between St Johns Park and Wakeley?
At 3% annual cost growth, St Johns Park costs a cumulative $123,902 and Wakeley costs $128,097 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,195 in favour of St Johns Park. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of St Johns Park and Wakeley 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.