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 $459 a year cheaper than Hamilton Valley, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,261.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $5,300, about $10 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Hamilton Valley
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Glenroy | Hamilton Valley | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,631 | $1,631 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $879 | $1,638 | -$759 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $879 | $1,638 | -$759 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,660 | $6,119 | -$459 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,660 | $6,119 | -$459 |
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 | 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 and Hamilton Valley differ by $459 a year by car, but $300 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 $759, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
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 $459 per year, $5,660 from Glenroy versus $6,119 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 $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 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 | $5,660 | $6,119 | $459 |
| Year 3 | $17,494 | $18,913 | $1,419 |
| Year 5 | $30,050 | $32,487 | $2,437 |
| Year 10 | $64,886 | $70,147 | $5,261 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Glenroy or Hamilton Valley cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Glenroy runs $5,660 a year by car and Hamilton Valley $6,119, but most of the $459 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $759. 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). No daily public transport commute is assumed from either suburb, so both are costed by car.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Glenroy and Hamilton Valley?
At 3% annual cost growth, Glenroy costs a cumulative $64,886 and Hamilton Valley costs $70,147 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,261 in favour of Glenroy. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Glenroy and Hamilton Valley 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.