Emu Swamp vs Lucknow, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Emu Swamp and Lucknow are both Orange rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6.6 km and 8.5 km from Orange CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Emu Swamp runs $539 a year cheaper than Lucknow, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,179.
Over 10 years, Emu Swamp costs about $6,200 less to run than Lucknow. That's about $12 a week.
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Lucknow
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Emu Swamp | Lucknow | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,718 | $1,718 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,116 | $2,655 | -$539 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,116 | $2,655 | -$539 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,984 | $7,523 | -$539 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,984 | $7,523 | -$539 |
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 | Emu Swamp | Lucknow | 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, Emu Swamp vs Lucknow (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Emu Swamp costs $539 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,179 in favour of Emu Swamp.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $539 per year. Lucknow is 8.5 km from Orange CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $539 per year, $6,984 from Emu Swamp versus $7,523 from Lucknow.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,718 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Emu Swamp by $539 a year, $2,116 against $2,655.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,850 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 5.2 in Lucknow against 1 in Emu Swamp, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Emu Swamp cumulative | Lucknow cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,984 | $7,523 | $539 |
| Year 3 | $21,587 | $23,253 | $1,666 |
| Year 5 | $37,079 | $39,941 | $2,862 |
| Year 10 | $80,064 | $86,243 | $6,179 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Emu Swamp or Lucknow cheaper to live in?
Emu Swamp is cheaper to run by car at $6,984 per year versus $7,523 for Lucknow, a difference of $539 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Emu Swamp and Lucknow?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,718 in Emu Swamp (Orange rates (OLG) and $1,718 in Lucknow (Orange rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Emu Swamp and $1,300 in Lucknow. 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 Emu Swamp and Lucknow?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,116 from Emu Swamp and $2,655 from Lucknow to Orange 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 Emu Swamp and Lucknow?
At 3% annual cost growth, Emu Swamp costs a cumulative $80,064 and Lucknow costs $86,243 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,179 in favour of Emu Swamp. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Emu Swamp and Lucknow suits you better?
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Sources: Orange rates (OLG and Orange 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.