Albury vs East Albury, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Albury and East Albury are both Albury rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 0.2 km and 3.8 km from Albury CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Albury runs $1,251 a year cheaper than East Albury, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $14,342.
Over 10 years, Albury costs about $14,300 less to run than East Albury. That's about $28 a week.
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East Albury
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Albury | East Albury | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,631 | $1,631 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $514 | $1,265 | -$751 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $514 | $1,265 | -$751 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,350 | -$500 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,295 | $6,546 | -$1,251 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,295 | $6,546 | -$1,251 |
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 | Albury | East Albury | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,150 | $3,150 | - |
| Unit | $2,611 | $2,611 | - |
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, Albury vs East Albury (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Albury costs $1,251 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $14,342 in favour of Albury.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $751 per year. East Albury is 3.8 km from Albury CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $1,251 per year, $5,295 from Albury versus $6,546 from East Albury.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,631 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Albury by $751 a year, $514 against $1,265.
- Building insurance favours Albury by $500 a year, $1,850 against $2,350.
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 high in East Albury against medium in Albury, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Albury cumulative | East Albury cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,295 | $6,546 | $1,251 |
| Year 3 | $16,366 | $20,233 | $3,867 |
| Year 5 | $28,112 | $34,754 | $6,642 |
| Year 10 | $60,701 | $75,043 | $14,342 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Albury or East Albury cheaper to live in?
Albury is cheaper to run by car at $5,295 per year versus $6,546 for East Albury, a difference of $1,251 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Albury and East Albury?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,631 in Albury (Albury rates (OLG) and $1,631 in East Albury (Albury rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Albury and $1,300 in East Albury. 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 Albury and East Albury?
Annual driving commute costs are $514 from Albury and $1,265 from East Albury to Albury CBD (ATO 91c/km). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Albury and East Albury?
At 3% annual cost growth, Albury costs a cumulative $60,701 and East Albury costs $75,043 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $14,342 in favour of Albury. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Albury and East Albury suits you better?
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Related comparisons
Sources: Albury rates (OLG and Albury 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.