Living in a house in Fairfield costs about $7,298 a year: council rates, water and sewerage, commute and home insurance combined. Fairfield sits 5.4 kilometres from Melbourne CBD. Unit costs reach $8,098, with the $2,600 owners corporation levy accounting for the entire difference between the two. Switching from driving to public transport saves $461 per year at this distance.
About $140 a week to run a house here, including estimates
Unit annual cost
$8,098
Incl. owners corporation
$675/month
About $156 a week to run a unit here, including estimates
House vs unit difference
+$800
Unit costs more per year
Annual cost breakdown
Council rates
Official, 2026-27 Yarra rates
$1,748
Water & sewerage
Official, 2026-27 Yarra Valley Water
$1,538
Driving commute
Modelled, 2026-27 ATO 91c/km · 5.4km from CBD · 192 days
$1,762
Home insurance
Estimated flood High · fire Low
$2,250
Owners corporation
Estimated
$2,600
Total annual running cost
$7,298
($608/month, $140/week)
Excludes electricity, estimated separately below. Also excludes the state Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy on your rates notice: $139 a year plus 17.3 cents per $1,000 of your home's capital improved value (2026-27).
↑ 13% above Yarra City Council average
SuburbCost affordability score ●●●●○7.3/10 Good
Cheaper to run than 89% of Yarra City Council suburbs. Score blends running cost (50%), schools (20%) and flood & fire risk (30%).
Estimated electricity cost
typical 2-person household
House
$1,794/yr
4,840 kWh
Unit
$1,461/yr
3,630 kWh
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for Fairfield's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for its electricity network. Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Getting around Fairfield
within a 2 km walk
Nearest stop
Dennis, 675 m away, about an 8 minute walk. It is a train stop.
Nearest hospital
Thomas Embling Hospital, 532 m away, about a 7 minute walk.
Supermarkets
7
Cafes
43
Parks
57
Counted from OpenStreetMap via Overpass inside a 2 km walking radius of the suburb centre, built 2026-11-03. Distances are straight line from that centre, so a specific address can be closer or further. Mapping is contributed and can lag a new opening.
Is it cheaper to drive or take public transport from Fairfield to the CBD?
Driving saves Fairfield residents $461 per year. Annual commute cost by car is $1,762 versus $2,223 by public transport using a yearly myki Pass at the 2026 standard full fare.
What are the council rates in Fairfield?
Fairfield falls under Yarra City Council. The average residential rate for 2026-27 is $1,748 per year, from the council's budget: residential rate revenue divided by the number of residential assessments, plus the council's municipal charge where it sets one. Victorian councils rate on capital improved value, so individual properties pay more or less than the average. The figure excludes waste charges and the state Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy.
What does it cost to run a unit in Fairfield?
Running a unit in Fairfield costs approximately $8,098 per year by car or $8,559 by public transport. This includes council rates of $1,748, water and sewerage $1,538, estimated owners corporation levy of $2,600, and contents insurance of $450. Owners corporation fees vary significantly between buildings. Always confirm the actual levy before purchasing.
Is Fairfield close to public transport?
The nearest scheduled service to the centre of Fairfield is Dennis, a train stop about 675 m away, about an 8 minute walk. That is measured from the suburb centre, so an individual address can be nearer or further. The commute figure used in the running cost on this page assumes driving, not this service.
What is the closest hospital to Fairfield?
The closest hospital to the centre of Fairfield is Thomas Embling Hospital, about 532 m away, about a 7 minute walk. Distance is straight line from the suburb centre and does not account for the road route or whether the hospital has an emergency department.
What shops and parks are in Fairfield?
Within a 2 km walk of the centre of Fairfield there are 7 supermarkets, 43 cafes and 57 parks. These counts come from OpenStreetMap via Overpass, which is contributed mapping and can lag a recent opening or closure.
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Data sources: Council rates: Yarra rates (2026-27 budget). Water: Yarra Valley Water 2026-27. Commute: ATO cents per kilometre rate 2026–27 (91c/km). Insurance: estimated from ACCC 2026 premium rates for the area's cyclone risk on a standard $600,000 home, adjusted for flood and fire, disclosed as estimate. Schools: ACARA ICSEA 2025. Risk: Flood: Victorian planning scheme flood overlays (FO, LSIO, SBO). Fire: Bushfire Management Overlay and Bushfire Prone Area. Data last verified November 2026. Cost estimates are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute financial, insurance, or credit advice.