Kooringal vs Lake Albert, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Kooringal and Lake Albert are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 3.8 km and 6.5 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Kooringal runs $1,222 a year cheaper than Lake Albert, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $14,009.
Over 10 years, Kooringal costs about $14,000 less to run than Lake Albert. That's about $27 a week.
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Lake Albert
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Kooringal | Lake Albert | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,265 | $2,087 | -$822 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,265 | $2,087 | -$822 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,950 | -$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,409 | $6,631 | -$1,222 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,409 | $6,631 | -$1,222 |
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 | Kooringal | Lake Albert | 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, Kooringal vs Lake Albert (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Kooringal costs $1,222 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $14,009 in favour of Kooringal.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $822 per year. Lake Albert is 6.5 km from Wagga Wagga CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $1,222 per year, $5,409 from Kooringal versus $6,631 from Lake Albert.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,294 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,300 a year.
- Driving commute favours Kooringal by $822 a year, $1,265 against $2,087.
- Building insurance favours Kooringal by $400 a year, $1,550 against $1,950.
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 Lake Albert against low in Kooringal, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Kooringal cumulative | Lake Albert cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,409 | $6,631 | $1,222 |
| Year 3 | $16,719 | $20,496 | $3,777 |
| Year 5 | $28,717 | $35,205 | $6,488 |
| Year 10 | $62,008 | $76,017 | $14,009 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kooringal or Lake Albert cheaper to live in?
Kooringal is cheaper to run by car at $5,409 per year versus $6,631 for Lake Albert, a difference of $1,222 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Kooringal and Lake Albert?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Kooringal (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Lake Albert (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Kooringal and $1,300 in Lake Albert. 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 Kooringal and Lake Albert?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,265 from Kooringal and $2,087 from Lake Albert to Wagga Wagga 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 Kooringal and Lake Albert?
At 3% annual cost growth, Kooringal costs a cumulative $62,008 and Lake Albert costs $76,017 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $14,009 in favour of Kooringal. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Kooringal and Lake Albert suits you better?
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Sources: Wagga Wagga rates (OLG and Wagga Wagga 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.