Ettamogah vs Springdale Heights, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Ettamogah and Springdale Heights are both Albury rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 8.5 km and 6.4 km from Albury CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Springdale Heights runs $897 a year cheaper than Ettamogah, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $10,283.
Over 10 years, Springdale Heights costs about $10,300 less to run than Ettamogah. That's about $20 a week.
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Springdale Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Ettamogah | Springdale Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,631 | $1,631 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,655 | $2,058 | +$597 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,655 | $2,058 | +$597 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,436 | $6,539 | +$897 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,436 | $6,539 | +$897 |
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 | Ettamogah | Springdale Heights | 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, Ettamogah vs Springdale Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Springdale Heights costs $897 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $10,283 in favour of Springdale Heights.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $597 per year. Ettamogah is 8.5 km from Albury CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $897 per year, $7,436 from Ettamogah versus $6,539 from Springdale Heights.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,631 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Springdale Heights by $597 a year, $2,058 against $2,655.
- Building insurance favours Springdale Heights 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.
Fire risk is rated high in Ettamogah against medium in Springdale Heights, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Ettamogah cumulative | Springdale Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,436 | $6,539 | $897 |
| Year 3 | $22,984 | $20,211 | $2,773 |
| Year 5 | $39,479 | $34,716 | $4,763 |
| Year 10 | $85,245 | $74,962 | $10,283 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ettamogah or Springdale Heights cheaper to live in?
Springdale Heights is cheaper to run by car at $6,539 per year versus $7,436 for Ettamogah, a difference of $897 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Ettamogah and Springdale Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,631 in Ettamogah (Albury rates (OLG) and $1,631 in Springdale Heights (Albury rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Ettamogah and $1,300 in Springdale Heights. 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 Springdale Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,655 from Ettamogah and $2,058 from Springdale Heights to Albury 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 Ettamogah and Springdale Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Ettamogah costs a cumulative $85,245 and Springdale Heights costs $74,962 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $10,283 in favour of Springdale Heights. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Ettamogah and Springdale Heights suits you better?
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Sources: Albury rates (OLG and Albury 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.