Huntley vs Lucknow, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Huntley and Lucknow are both Orange rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 9.8 km and 8.5 km from Orange CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Lucknow runs $350 a year cheaper than Huntley, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $4,012.
Over 10 years, Lucknow costs about $4,000 less to run than Huntley. That's about $8 a week.
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Lucknow
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Huntley | Lucknow | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,718 | $1,718 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,005 | $2,655 | +$350 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,005 | $2,655 | +$350 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,850 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,800 | -$300 |
| Total (driving) | $7,873 | $7,523 | +$350 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,873 | $7,523 | +$350 |
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 | Huntley | Lucknow | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $3,257 | $3,257 | - |
| Unit | $2,691 | $2,691 | - |
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, Huntley vs Lucknow (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lucknow costs $350 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $4,012 in favour of Lucknow.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $350 per year. Huntley is 9.8 km from Orange CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $350 per year, $7,873 from Huntley versus $7,523 from Lucknow.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,718 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lucknow by $350 a year, $2,655 against $3,005.
- Building insurance is identical at $1,850 a year.
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.
The catchment state school scores 5.2 in Lucknow against 4.2 in Huntley, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Huntley cumulative | Lucknow cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,873 | $7,523 | $350 |
| Year 3 | $24,335 | $23,253 | $1,082 |
| Year 5 | $41,799 | $39,941 | $1,858 |
| Year 10 | $90,255 | $86,243 | $4,012 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Huntley or Lucknow cheaper to live in?
Lucknow is cheaper to run by car at $7,523 per year versus $7,873 for Huntley, a difference of $350 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Huntley and Lucknow?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,718 in Huntley (Orange rates (OLG) and $1,718 in Lucknow (Orange rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Huntley and $1,300 in Lucknow. 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 Huntley and Lucknow?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,005 from Huntley and $2,655 from Lucknow to Orange 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 Huntley and Lucknow?
At 3% annual cost growth, Huntley costs a cumulative $90,255 and Lucknow costs $86,243 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $4,012 in favour of Lucknow. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Huntley and Lucknow suits you better?
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Sources: Orange rates (OLG and Orange 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.