Appleby vs Attunga, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Appleby and Attunga are both Tamworth Regional rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 18.1 km and 22.4 km from Tamworth CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Appleby runs $442 a year cheaper than Attunga, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,067.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,100, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Appleby
Attunga
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Appleby | Attunga | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,442 | $1,442 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,894 | $5,636 | -$742 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,894 | $5,636 | -$742 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $9,486 | $9,928 | -$442 |
| Total (public transport) | $9,486 | $9,928 | -$442 |
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 | Appleby | Attunga | 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, Appleby vs Attunga (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Appleby and Attunga differ by $442 a year by car, but $300 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $742, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $742 per year. Attunga is 22.4 km from Tamworth CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $442 per year, $9,486 from Appleby versus $9,928 from Attunga.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,442 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Appleby by $742 a year, $4,894 against $5,636.
- Building insurance favours Attunga by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
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 Appleby against low in Attunga, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Appleby cumulative | Attunga cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9,486 | $9,928 | $442 |
| Year 3 | $29,320 | $30,686 | $1,366 |
| Year 5 | $50,362 | $52,709 | $2,347 |
| Year 10 | $108,746 | $113,813 | $5,067 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Appleby or Attunga cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Appleby runs $9,486 a year by car and Attunga $9,928, but most of the $442 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $742. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Appleby and Attunga?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,442 in Appleby (Tamworth Regional rates (OLG) and $1,442 in Attunga (Tamworth Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Appleby and $1,300 in Attunga. 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 Appleby and Attunga?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,894 from Appleby and $5,636 from Attunga to Tamworth 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 Appleby and Attunga?
At 3% annual cost growth, Appleby costs a cumulative $108,746 and Attunga costs $113,813 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,067 in favour of Appleby. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Appleby and Attunga suits you better?
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: Tamworth Regional rates (OLG and Tamworth Regional 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.