Hamilton Valley vs North Albury, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Hamilton Valley and North Albury are both Albury rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 5 km and 2.3 km from Albury CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
North Albury runs $757 a year cheaper than Hamilton Valley, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $8,678.
Over 10 years, North Albury costs about $8,700 less to run than Hamilton Valley. That's about $17 a week.
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North Albury
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Hamilton Valley | North Albury | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,631 | $1,631 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,638 | $781 | +$857 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,638 | $781 | +$857 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,650 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,119 | $5,362 | +$757 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,119 | $5,362 | +$757 |
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 | Hamilton Valley | North Albury | 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, Hamilton Valley vs North Albury (2026-27)
What the numbers show
North Albury costs $757 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $8,678 in favour of North Albury.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $857 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 $757 per year, $6,119 from Hamilton Valley versus $5,362 from North Albury.
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 North Albury by $857 a year, $781 against $1,638.
- Building insurance favours Hamilton Valley by $100 a year, $1,550 against $1,650.
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.
Flood risk is rated medium in North Albury against low in Hamilton Valley, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Hamilton Valley against low in North Albury, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.6 in Hamilton Valley against 3.3 in North Albury, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Hamilton Valley cumulative | North Albury cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,119 | $5,362 | $757 |
| Year 3 | $18,913 | $16,573 | $2,340 |
| Year 5 | $32,487 | $28,468 | $4,019 |
| Year 10 | $70,147 | $61,469 | $8,678 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hamilton Valley or North Albury cheaper to live in?
North Albury is cheaper to run by car at $5,362 per year versus $6,119 for Hamilton Valley, a difference of $757 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Hamilton Valley and North Albury?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,631 in Hamilton Valley (Albury rates (OLG) and $1,631 in North Albury (Albury rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Hamilton Valley and $1,300 in North Albury. 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 Hamilton Valley and North Albury?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,638 from Hamilton Valley and $781 from North Albury 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 Hamilton Valley and North Albury?
At 3% annual cost growth, Hamilton Valley costs a cumulative $70,147 and North Albury costs $61,469 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $8,678 in favour of North Albury. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Hamilton Valley and North Albury 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.