Duval vs Tilbuster, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Duval and Tilbuster are both Armidale Regional rates (OLG suburbs, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tilbuster runs $350 a year cheaper than Duval, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,012.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $4,000, about $8 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tilbuster
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Duval | Tilbuster | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,524 | $1,524 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $18,200 | $18,200 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $2,200 | $1,850 | +$350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $23,224 | $22,874 | +$350 |
| Total (public transport) | $23,224 | $22,874 | +$350 |
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 | Duval | Tilbuster | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,257 | $3,257 | - |
| Unit | $2,691 | $2,691 | - |
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, Duval vs Tilbuster (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Duval and Tilbuster differ by $350 a year by car, but $350 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 $0, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $350 per year.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $23,224 from Duval versus $22,874 from Tilbuster.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,524 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute is identical at $18,200 a year.
- Building insurance favours Tilbuster by $350 a year, $1,850 against $2,200.
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 the insurance band.
Fire risk is rated high in Duval against medium in Tilbuster, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Duval cumulative | Tilbuster cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $23,224 | $22,874 | $350 |
| Year 3 | $71,783 | $70,701 | $1,082 |
| Year 5 | $123,299 | $121,441 | $1,858 |
| Year 10 | $266,237 | $262,225 | $4,012 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duval or Tilbuster cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Duval runs $23,224 a year by car and Tilbuster $22,874, but most of the $350 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $0. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Duval and Tilbuster?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,524 in Duval (Armidale Regional rates (OLG) and $1,524 in Tilbuster (Armidale Regional rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Duval and $1,300 in Tilbuster. 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 Duval and Tilbuster?
Duval carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. Tilbuster carries a flat regional driving allowance of $18,200, about 20,000 km of household driving a year, because it is more than 100 km from Sydney CBD. No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Duval and Tilbuster?
At 3% annual cost growth, Duval costs a cumulative $266,237 and Tilbuster costs $262,225 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,012 in favour of Tilbuster. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Duval and Tilbuster suits you better?
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Sources: Armidale Regional rates (OLG and Armidale 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.