Albury vs Glenroy: 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 Glenroy are both Albury rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 0.2 km and 2.6 km from Albury CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Albury runs $315 a year cheaper than Glenroy, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,611.
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 →Albury
Glenroy
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Albury | Glenroy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,631 | $1,631 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $514 | $879 | -$365 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,450 | $2,400 | +$50 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,895 | $6,210 | -$315 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,781 | $7,731 | +$50 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Albury | Glenroy | 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 Glenroy (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Albury costs $315 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,611 in favour of Albury.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $365 per year. Glenroy is 2.6 km from Albury CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,781 and $7,731 a year, so the $315 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 $365 a year, $514 against $879.
- Building insurance favours Glenroy by $50 a year, $2,400 against $2,450.
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 Albury against low in Glenroy, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Glenroy against medium in Albury, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 7.2 in Albury against 3.4 in Glenroy, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Albury cumulative | Glenroy cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,895 | $6,210 | $315 |
| Year 3 | $18,221 | $19,194 | $973 |
| Year 5 | $31,297 | $32,970 | $1,673 |
| Year 10 | $67,580 | $71,191 | $3,611 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Albury or Glenroy cheaper to live in?
Albury is cheaper to run by car at $5,895 per year versus $6,210 for Glenroy, a difference of $315 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Albury and Glenroy?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,631 in Albury (Albury rates (OLG) and $1,631 in Glenroy (Albury rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Albury and $1,300 in Glenroy. 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 Glenroy?
Annual driving commute costs are $514 from Albury and $879 from Glenroy to Albury CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Albury and $2,400 from Glenroy.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Albury and Glenroy?
At 3% annual cost growth, Albury costs a cumulative $67,580 and Glenroy costs $71,191 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,611 in favour of Albury. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Albury and Glenroy 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: 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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.