Lake Albert vs Tolland, 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 Tolland are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 6.5 km and 4.2 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Tolland runs $1,096 a year cheaper than Lake Albert, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $12,564.
Over 10 years, Tolland costs about $12,600 less to run than Lake Albert. That's about $24 a week.
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Tolland
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lake Albert | Tolland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,087 | $1,391 | +$696 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,087 | $1,391 | +$696 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,950 | $1,550 | +$400 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,631 | $5,535 | +$1,096 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,631 | $5,535 | +$1,096 |
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 | Tolland | 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 Tolland (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Tolland costs $1,096 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $12,564 in favour of Tolland.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $696 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 $1,096 per year, $6,631 from Lake Albert versus $5,535 from Tolland.
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 Tolland by $696 a year, $1,391 against $2,087.
- Building insurance favours Tolland 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 Tolland, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.1 in Lake Albert against 1.8 in Tolland, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lake Albert cumulative | Tolland cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,631 | $5,535 | $1,096 |
| Year 3 | $20,496 | $17,108 | $3,388 |
| Year 5 | $35,205 | $29,386 | $5,819 |
| Year 10 | $76,017 | $63,453 | $12,564 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Albert or Tolland cheaper to live in?
Tolland is cheaper to run by car at $5,535 per year versus $6,631 for Lake Albert, a difference of $1,096 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lake Albert and Tolland?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Lake Albert (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Tolland (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Lake Albert and $1,300 in Tolland. 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 Tolland?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,087 from Lake Albert and $1,391 from Tolland 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 Tolland?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lake Albert costs a cumulative $76,017 and Tolland costs $63,453 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $12,564 in favour of Tolland. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lake Albert and Tolland 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.