Lavington 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
Lavington and North Albury are both Albury rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 4.6 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 $634 a year cheaper than Lavington, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,268.
Over 10 years, North Albury costs about $7,300 less to run than Lavington. That's about $14 a week.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict → Personalise this comparison with your own commute, home type and loan →Lavington
North Albury
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lavington | North Albury | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,631 | $1,631 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,515 | $781 | +$734 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $1,515 | $781 | +$734 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,550 | $1,650 | -$100 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $5,996 | $5,362 | +$634 |
| Total (public transport) | $5,996 | $5,362 | +$634 |
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 | Lavington | 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, Lavington vs North Albury (2026-27)
What the numbers show
North Albury costs $634 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,268 in favour of North Albury.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $734 per year. Lavington is 4.6 km from Albury CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $634 per year, $5,996 from Lavington 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 $734 a year, $781 against $1,515.
- Building insurance favours Lavington 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 Lavington, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated medium in Lavington against low in North Albury, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 4.6 in Lavington against 3.3 in North Albury, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lavington cumulative | North Albury cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,996 | $5,362 | $634 |
| Year 3 | $18,533 | $16,573 | $1,960 |
| Year 5 | $31,834 | $28,468 | $3,366 |
| Year 10 | $68,737 | $61,469 | $7,268 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lavington or North Albury cheaper to live in?
North Albury is cheaper to run by car at $5,362 per year versus $5,996 for Lavington, a difference of $634 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lavington and North Albury?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,631 in Lavington (Albury rates (OLG) and $1,631 in North Albury (Albury rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Lavington 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 Lavington and North Albury?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,515 from Lavington 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 Lavington and North Albury?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lavington costs a cumulative $68,737 and North Albury costs $61,469 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,268 in favour of North Albury. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lavington and North Albury suits you better?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
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.