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8.1 km from CBD
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True annual cost of living in Ashfield, NSW 2131

Living in a house in Ashfield costs about $7,709 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Ashfield sits 8.1 kilometres from Sydney CBD. Unit costs reach $8,539, with the $2,600 body corporate levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $540 per year at this distance.

Last updated July 2026 · Inner West Council rates 2026-27, ATO 88c/km, AER electricity benchmarks

3 key insights
Costs 6% more to run than the Inner West average, cheaper than only 30% of suburbs in the region.
The commute is the biggest expense at $2,460, roughly 32% of the annual total.
Switching from driving to public transport saves $540 a year.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →
Lower cost
House annual cost
$7,709
Driving · per year
$642/month
Unit annual cost
$8,539
Incl. body corporate
$712/month
House vs unit difference
+$830
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Inner West rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg) · average rate
$1,401
Water & sewerage
Sydney Water 2026-27
$1,548
Driving commute
ATO 88c/km · 8.1km from CBD · 192 days
$2,460
Home insurance
Estimated · flood Medium · fire Low
$2,300
Total annual running cost
$7,709
($642/month)
↑ 6% above Inner West average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●○○ 5.0/10 Average
Cheaper to run than 30% of Inner West suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost typical 2-person household
House
$2,148/yr
5,238 kWh
Unit
$1,716/yr
3,929 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Ashfield's climate zone at 2025 rates. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Compare Ashfield with another suburb
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Ashfield to the CBD?
Public transport saves Ashfield residents $540 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $2,460 versus $1,920 by public transport using the Opal network.
What are the council rates in Ashfield?
Ashfield falls under Inner West Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,401 per year for an owner-occupied house, based on OLG data uplifted by the council's IPART rate peg. Individual properties pay more or less depending on land value. Unit owners in strata schemes pay $1,401 per year. These figures cover the general rate only and exclude waste and cleansing charges.
What does it cost to run a unit in Ashfield?
Running a unit in Ashfield costs approximately $8,539 per year by car or $7,999 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,401, water and sewerage $1,548, estimated body corporate levy of $2,600, and contents insurance of $530. Body corporate fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.

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Data sources: Council rates: Inner West rates (OLG 2024-25 + IPART 2026-27 peg). Water: Sydney Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2025–26 (88c/km). Insurance: AI-estimated, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Fire: NSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land. Flood: modelled from 30m elevation (topographic). Data updated 2026-07.
Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.