Lake Albert vs Tatton, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lake Albert and Tatton are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6.5 km and 5.6 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tatton runs $667 a year cheaper than Lake Albert, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,646.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $7,600, about $15 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Tatton
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lake Albert | Tatton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,087 | $1,820 | +$267 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,087 | $1,820 | +$267 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,950 | $1,550 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,631 | $5,964 | +$667 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,631 | $5,964 | +$667 |
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 | Lake Albert | Tatton | 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, Lake Albert vs Tatton (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lake Albert and Tatton differ by $667 a year by car, but $400 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 $267, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $400 per year. Lake Albert carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $667 per year, $6,631 from Lake Albert versus $5,964 from Tatton.
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 Tatton by $267 a year, $1,820 against $2,087.
- Building insurance favours Tatton 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 Tatton, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lake Albert cumulative | Tatton cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,631 | $5,964 | $667 |
| Year 3 | $20,496 | $18,434 | $2,062 |
| Year 5 | $35,205 | $31,664 | $3,541 |
| Year 10 | $76,017 | $68,371 | $7,646 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Albert or Tatton cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Lake Albert runs $6,631 a year by car and Tatton $5,964, but most of the $667 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $267. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lake Albert and Tatton?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Lake Albert (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Tatton (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Lake Albert and $1,300 in Tatton. 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 Lake Albert and Tatton?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,087 from Lake Albert and $1,820 from Tatton 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 Lake Albert and Tatton?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lake Albert costs a cumulative $76,017 and Tatton costs $68,371 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,646 in favour of Tatton. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lake Albert and Tatton 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.