Glenroy vs Hamilton Valley: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Glenroy and Hamilton Valley are both Albury rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 2.6 km and 5 km from Albury CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Glenroy runs $359 a year cheaper than Hamilton Valley, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,115.
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 →Glenroy
Hamilton Valley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Glenroy | Hamilton Valley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,631 | $1,631 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $879 | $1,638 | -$759 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,400 | $2,000 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,210 | $6,569 | -$359 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,731 | $7,331 | +$400 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Glenroy | Hamilton Valley | 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 — Glenroy vs Hamilton Valley (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Glenroy costs $359 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,115 in favour of Glenroy.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $759 per year. Hamilton Valley is 5 km from Albury CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $400 per year, $7,731 from Glenroy versus $7,331 from Hamilton Valley.
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 Glenroy by $759 a year, $879 against $1,638.
- Building insurance favours Hamilton Valley by $400 a year, $2,000 against $2,400.
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 Glenroy against medium in Hamilton Valley, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.6 in Hamilton Valley against 3.4 in Glenroy, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Glenroy cumulative | Hamilton Valley cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,210 | $6,569 | $359 |
| Year 3 | $19,194 | $20,304 | $1,110 |
| Year 5 | $32,970 | $34,876 | $1,906 |
| Year 10 | $71,191 | $75,306 | $4,115 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Glenroy or Hamilton Valley cheaper to live in?
Glenroy is cheaper to run by car at $6,210 per year versus $6,569 for Hamilton Valley, a difference of $359 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Glenroy and Hamilton Valley?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,631 in Glenroy (Albury rates (OLG) and $1,631 in Hamilton Valley (Albury rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Glenroy and $1,300 in Hamilton Valley. 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 Glenroy and Hamilton Valley?
Annual driving commute costs are $879 from Glenroy and $1,638 from Hamilton Valley to Albury CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Glenroy and $2,400 from Hamilton Valley.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Glenroy and Hamilton Valley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Glenroy costs a cumulative $71,191 and Hamilton Valley costs $75,306 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,115 in favour of Glenroy. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Glenroy and Hamilton Valley 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 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.