Lavington vs Springdale Heights: 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 Springdale Heights are both Albury rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 4.6 km and 6.4 km from Albury CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Lavington runs $543 a year cheaper than Springdale Heights, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $6,225.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Lavington
Springdale Heights
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lavington | Springdale Heights | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,631 | $1,631 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $1,515 | $2,058 | -$543 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,000 | $2,000 | - |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $6,446 | $6,989 | -$543 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,331 | $7,331 | - |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Lavington | Springdale Heights | 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 Springdale Heights (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lavington costs $543 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $6,225 in favour of Lavington.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $543 per year. Springdale Heights is 6.4 km from Albury CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the two suburbs cost almost the same, $7,331 and $7,331 a year, so the $543 driving gap nearly closes if you commute by public transport.
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 Lavington by $543 a year, $1,515 against $2,058.
- Building insurance is identical at $2,000 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.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lavington cumulative | Springdale Heights cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $6,446 | $6,989 | $543 |
| Year 3 | $19,924 | $21,602 | $1,678 |
| Year 5 | $34,223 | $37,106 | $2,883 |
| Year 10 | $73,896 | $80,121 | $6,225 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lavington or Springdale Heights cheaper to live in?
Lavington is cheaper to run by car at $6,446 per year versus $6,989 for Springdale Heights, a difference of $543 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lavington and Springdale Heights?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,631 in Lavington (Albury rates (OLG) and $1,631 in Springdale Heights (Albury rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Lavington and $1,300 in Springdale Heights. 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 Springdale Heights?
Annual driving commute costs are $1,515 from Lavington and $2,058 from Springdale Heights to Albury CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Lavington and $2,400 from Springdale Heights.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lavington and Springdale Heights?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lavington costs a cumulative $73,896 and Springdale Heights costs $80,121 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $6,225 in favour of Lavington. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lavington and Springdale Heights is best to actually live in?
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 AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.