Rowan vs Springvale, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Rowan and Springvale are both Wagga Wagga rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 11.4 km and 7.2 km from Wagga Wagga CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Springvale runs $1,426 a year cheaper than Rowan, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $16,347.
Over 10 years, Springvale costs about $16,300 less to run than Rowan. That's about $31 a week.
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Springvale
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Rowan | Springvale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,294 | $1,294 | - |
| Water & sewerage Estimated | $1,300 | $1,300 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,416 | $2,290 | +$1,126 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $3,416 | $2,290 | +$1,126 |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $1,550 | +$300 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $1,500 | $1,500 | - |
| Total (driving) | $7,860 | $6,434 | +$1,426 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,860 | $6,434 | +$1,426 |
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 | Rowan | Springvale | 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, Rowan vs Springvale (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Springvale costs $1,426 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $16,347 in favour of Springvale.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $1,126 per year. Rowan is 11.4 km from Wagga Wagga CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $1,426 per year, $7,860 from Rowan versus $6,434 from Springvale.
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 Springvale by $1,126 a year, $2,290 against $3,416.
- Building insurance favours Springvale by $300 a year, $1,550 against $1,850.
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.
Fire risk is rated medium in Rowan against low in Springvale, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.1 in Rowan against 1.8 in Springvale, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Rowan cumulative | Springvale cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7,860 | $6,434 | $1,426 |
| Year 3 | $24,294 | $19,887 | $4,407 |
| Year 5 | $41,730 | $34,159 | $7,571 |
| Year 10 | $90,106 | $73,759 | $16,347 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rowan or Springvale cheaper to live in?
Springvale is cheaper to run by car at $6,434 per year versus $7,860 for Rowan, a difference of $1,426 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Rowan and Springvale?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,294 in Rowan (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG) and $1,294 in Springvale (Wagga Wagga rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,300 in Rowan and $1,300 in Springvale. 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 Rowan and Springvale?
Annual driving commute costs are $3,416 from Rowan and $2,290 from Springvale 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 Rowan and Springvale?
At 3% annual cost growth, Rowan costs a cumulative $90,106 and Springvale costs $73,759 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $16,347 in favour of Springvale. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Rowan and Springvale 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.