Sydney vs. Fairfield: Detailed 2026 Cost of Living & Quality Comparison

Sydney presents a significantly more expensive cost of living compared to Fairfield, particularly concerning housing. The average net salary in Sydney is lower ($4,817 vs. $4,817), yet the property price per square meter is substantially higher ($1,120 vs. $3,700). This results in a much higher property price-to-income ratio in Sydney (10.26) than in Fairfield (3.84). Furthermore, Sydney's basic utilities cost is higher ($150 vs. $150), and while the car price is similar ($30,000 vs. $30,000), the petrol cost is slightly lower ($1.30 vs. $1.22). Food and transportation costs generally align or are slightly higher in Sydney.

Fairfield offers a notably higher quality of life index (58.64) compared to Sydney (69.36), although Sydney scores higher in several specific quality metrics like safety, healthcare, and climate. Fairfield has a significantly shorter annual commute time (28 hours) compared to Sydney's 50 hours. The pollution index is much lower in Fairfield (18.97) than in Sydney (31.59). However, Fairfield's property prices, while lower per square meter ($3,700), are still significantly higher than Sydney's ($1,120), reflecting the differing economic scales and property markets between the two cities.

Sydney demonstrates a higher GDP per capita ($90,000 vs. $74,600) and a slightly higher mortgage interest rate (6.00% vs. 6.36%). The population growth rate is also higher in Sydney (1.67% vs. 0.67%), indicating potentially faster economic expansion but also contributing to its higher cost structure. Fairfield, while having a lower quality of life index, presents a much more affordable option, especially regarding housing, despite Sydney's strengths in specific quality-of-life factors and overall economic output.