Ettamogah vs Lavington: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 88c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ettamogah and Lavington are both Albury rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 454.5 km and 457.9 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Lavington runs $400 a year cheaper than Ettamogah, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,585.
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 →Ettamogah
Lavington
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ettamogah | Lavington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,631 | $1,631 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $17,600 | $17,600 | - |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $22,931 | $22,531 | +$400 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,731 | $7,331 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 88c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Ettamogah | Lavington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,453 | $2,453 | - |
| Unit | $1,944 | $1,944 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2025 rates (QLD 30c/kWh, NSW 33c/kWh incl. supply charge; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Ettamogah vs Lavington (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lavington costs $400 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,585 in favour of Lavington.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,731 from Ettamogah versus $7,331 from Lavington.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ettamogah cumulative | Lavington cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $22,931 | $22,531 | $400 |
| Year 3 | $70,877 | $69,641 | $1,236 |
| Year 5 | $121,744 | $119,620 | $2,124 |
| Year 10 | $262,878 | $258,293 | $4,585 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ettamogah or Lavington cheaper to live in?
Lavington is cheaper to run by car at $22,531 per year versus $22,931 for Ettamogah, a difference of $400 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 88c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ettamogah and Lavington?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,631 in Ettamogah (Albury rates (OLG) and $1,631 in Lavington (Albury rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Ettamogah and $1,300 in Lavington. 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 Ettamogah and Lavington?
Annual driving commute costs are $17,600 from Ettamogah and $17,600 from Lavington to Sydney CBD (ATO 88c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Ettamogah and $2,400 from Lavington.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Ettamogah and Lavington?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ettamogah costs a cumulative $262,878 and Lavington costs $258,293 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,585 in favour of Lavington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ettamogah and Lavington 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 88c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.