Aldavilla vs Greenhill: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Aldavilla and Greenhill are both Kempsey rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 42.4 km and 44.3 km from Port Macquarie CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Aldavilla runs $344 a year cheaper than Greenhill, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $3,943.
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 →Aldavilla
Greenhill
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Aldavilla | Greenhill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,492 | $1,492 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $6,964 | $6,908 | +$56 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $3,500 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $12,856 | $13,200 | -$344 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,292 | $8,692 | -$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Aldavilla | Greenhill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,774 | $2,774 | - |
| Unit | $2,329 | $2,329 | - |
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 — Aldavilla vs Greenhill (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Aldavilla costs $344 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $3,943 in favour of Aldavilla.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Greenhill carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $8,292 from Aldavilla versus $8,692 from Greenhill.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,492 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Greenhill by $56 a year, $6,908 against $6,964.
- Building insurance favours Aldavilla by $400 a year, $3,100 against $3,500.
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.
Fire risk is rated high in Greenhill against medium in Aldavilla, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 3.4 in Aldavilla against 1 in Greenhill, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Aldavilla cumulative | Greenhill cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $12,856 | $13,200 | $344 |
| Year 3 | $39,737 | $40,800 | $1,063 |
| Year 5 | $68,254 | $70,081 | $1,827 |
| Year 10 | $147,380 | $151,323 | $3,943 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aldavilla or Greenhill cheaper to live in?
Aldavilla is cheaper to run by car at $12,856 per year versus $13,200 for Greenhill, a difference of $344 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Aldavilla and Greenhill?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,492 in Aldavilla (Kempsey rates (OLG) and $1,492 in Greenhill (Kempsey rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Aldavilla and $1,300 in Greenhill. 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 Aldavilla and Greenhill?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,964 from Aldavilla and $6,908 from Greenhill to Port Macquarie CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Aldavilla and $2,400 from Greenhill.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Aldavilla and Greenhill?
At 3% annual cost growth, Aldavilla costs a cumulative $147,380 and Greenhill costs $151,323 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $3,943 in favour of Aldavilla. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Aldavilla and Greenhill 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: Kempsey rates (OLG and Kempsey 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.