Fuel Prices in Australia — State-by-State Guide to Finding Cheap Petrol

Australian fuel prices are fully deregulated, meaning every service station sets its own price. The result is enormous variation — not just between brands, but between states, suburbs, and even opposite sides of the same road. Understanding how pricing works in each state is the single best way to stop overpaying at the pump.

How Australian Fuel Pricing Works

Unlike countries with fixed or government-set pump prices, Australia operates a free market for fuel. Retailers buy wholesale fuel (linked to the Singapore Tapis benchmark and the AUD/USD exchange rate), add their margin, and display whatever price they choose. The federal government levies a flat excise of approximately 49 cents per litre on petrol and diesel, plus 10% GST on the total price including excise. That means roughly 45 to 50 percent of what you pay at the pump goes straight to the government.

On top of the base wholesale cost and taxes, several factors push prices up or down: distance from import terminals and refineries, local competition, land and rent costs, brand margins, and whether the state has a transparency scheme that forces stations to publish prices. States with mandatory price reporting consistently show lower average prices because consumers can easily shop around.

You can check live ULP91 prices across Australia on our site, updated daily from official government data feeds.

State-by-State Breakdown

Western Australia — FuelWatch

Western Australia runs the most consumer-friendly fuel transparency scheme in the country. Under FuelWatch, every retail fuel outlet in the Perth metropolitan area and major regional centres must submit their next-day prices to the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety by 2:00 PM each day. Those prices are then locked in for a full 24 hours starting at 6:00 AM the following morning. Stations cannot change their price during the lock-in period, and the prices are published on the FuelWatch website the evening before they take effect.

This system gives WA drivers a genuine advantage: you can check tomorrow's prices tonight and plan your fill-up accordingly. Because prices are locked for 24 hours, there is no bait-and-switch — the price you see online is the price you pay at the pump. The scheme covers all common fuel types including ULP91, ULP95, ULP98, E10, diesel, and LPG.

CheapestFuelFinder pulls live station-level data from FuelWatch every day. You can browse WA fuel prices by fuel type and see exactly which stations are cheapest right now.

New South Wales — FuelCheck

NSW operates FuelCheck, a mandatory real-time price reporting system. Every fuel retailer in the state must report price changes to the NSW Government within 30 minutes of updating their boards. This makes NSW data extremely current — far more real-time than most other states. The scheme covers all retail outlets including independents, supermarket forecourts, and branded stations.

Sydney is also famous for its weekly fuel price cycle. Prices typically bottom out on Tuesday or Wednesday and peak on Thursday or Friday, with swings of 20 to 30 cents per litre being common. If you can time your fill-up to catch the bottom of the cycle, you can save $10 to $15 on a single tank. The ACCC publishes cycle tracking data, and we are working on integrating NSW FuelCheck data into CheapestFuelFinder so you can track NSW fuel prices directly on our platform.

Victoria

Victoria does not have mandatory price reporting. The state government previously ran a voluntary scheme, and some data is available through third-party apps, but coverage is patchy compared to WA and NSW. Melbourne experiences a similar weekly price cycle to Sydney, typically bottoming out mid-week and peaking on Fridays. The swings can be significant — 15 to 25 cents per litre is common.

Without a mandatory scheme, price transparency in Victoria relies on crowdsourced data and voluntary retailer participation. We are working to integrate available Victorian fuel prices as more data sources become accessible.

Queensland

Queensland introduced a voluntary fuel price reporting scheme in 2018 and has periodically considered making it mandatory. The state government monitors prices through the Office of Fair Trading and publishes some aggregated data, but station-level reporting is not required. Southeast Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast) tends to have competitive pricing thanks to high population density and multiple competing chains, while regional and remote Queensland can see prices 20 to 40 cents higher than the capital.

Brisbane does not exhibit the same pronounced weekly cycle as Sydney and Melbourne, although minor fluctuations do occur. You can check our Queensland prices page for the latest available data.

South Australia

South Australia runs a government fuel pricing website that provides some price transparency, though reporting is not as comprehensive as WA's FuelWatch or NSW's FuelCheck. Adelaide generally has competitive fuel prices thanks to good local competition, but regional SA — particularly the outback — can see significantly higher prices due to transport costs. The SA Government has been gradually improving its price transparency measures, and we plan to integrate their data as it becomes available through a public API.

Tasmania

Tasmania is a smaller market with fewer stations and less competition. Fuel arrives by tanker from mainland refineries and import terminals, adding transport cost. Hobart and Launceston have reasonable competition, but rural Tasmania can see prices well above the national average. There is currently no mandatory price reporting scheme, though the ACCC monitors Tasmanian prices as part of its national fuel monitoring program.

Northern Territory

The NT has the highest average fuel prices in Australia, driven by extreme distances from refineries, low population density, and limited competition. Darwin prices are somewhat competitive, but remote communities and highway roadhouses can charge well over $2.50 per litre. The NT Government publishes some fuel price information but does not mandate real-time reporting. Distance-based surcharges are a fact of life in the Territory.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT is the smallest fuel market in the country, essentially just the Canberra metropolitan area. With a relatively small number of stations and no mandatory reporting, prices tend to be slightly above the national average. However, competition from nearby Queanbeyan (in NSW) helps keep Canberra prices somewhat in check.

Why Prices Vary Between States

Several structural factors create the price gaps you see between states:

• Distance from refineries and import terminals. Australia has only two remaining oil refineries (Lytton in Brisbane and Altona in Melbourne), plus several import terminals in major ports. States closer to these facilities generally pay less for wholesale fuel. WA, for example, lost its Kwinana refinery in 2021, but the import terminal at Fremantle keeps Perth reasonably well supplied.
• Price transparency schemes. States with mandatory reporting (WA, NSW) consistently have lower average prices. When consumers can easily compare, competition intensifies and margins shrink. This is the single biggest policy lever for reducing fuel costs.
• Population density and competition. Metro areas with many stations competing for the same drivers have tighter margins. Rural and remote areas with one or two stations for hundreds of kilometres have much higher prices.
• Transport costs. Getting fuel from the port to the bowser costs money. Stations in remote locations face significant trucking costs that get passed on to consumers.
• Land and operating costs. A station in inner-city Sydney pays vastly more rent than one in a regional town. Those costs are reflected in the pump price.

The Australian Fuel Excise

The federal fuel excise is currently approximately 49 cents per litre, indexed to CPI and adjusted twice a year (February and August). This excise applies to all petrol, diesel, and most other automotive fuels. On top of the excise, the government charges 10% GST on the total price — meaning you pay GST on the excise itself. For a litre of ULP91 at $1.80, roughly 49 cents is excise, about 16 cents is GST, and the rest covers the wholesale fuel cost and the retailer's margin.

The excise is the same everywhere in Australia, so it does not explain price differences between states. What it does explain is why Australian fuel is not as cheap as it looks when you compare the wholesale price — the government takes a large cut before the fuel even reaches the bowser.

Weekly Price Cycles — When to Fill Up

Sydney and Melbourne are well known for their weekly fuel price cycles. Prices drop gradually over several days, then spike sharply — often by 20 to 30 cents per litre overnight. The pattern is driven by retailer pricing strategies: stations gradually discount to attract customers, then one major retailer resets to a high price and others follow within hours.

In Sydney, the cheapest day is typically Tuesday or Wednesday, with the spike usually happening on Thursday. In Melbourne, the cycle is similar but can be offset by a day. The ACCC tracks these cycles and publishes guidance on the best day to buy.

Perth does not have a traditional price cycle because FuelWatch's 24-hour lock-in prevents the rapid spikes seen in other cities. Brisbane's cycle is less pronounced and less predictable. If you are outside Sydney or Melbourne, the best strategy is simply to check prices before filling up rather than trying to time a cycle.

How to Use CheapestFuelFinder for Australia

We pull station-level data from government APIs — starting with WA FuelWatch and expanding to other states as their APIs become available. Here is how to get the most out of the site:

• Browse prices by fuel type: E10 prices, ULP91 prices, ULP95 prices, premium ULP98 prices, and diesel prices.
• Drill down by state to see station-level data and local averages.
• Use our price comparison tool to search by postcode or suburb and find the cheapest stations near you.
• Not sure which fuel grade to use? Read our fuel grade comparison to understand the difference between E10, ULP91, ULP95, and ULP98.

Tips for Saving on Fuel in Australia

• Check prices before filling up. Even within a single suburb, prices can vary by 15 to 20 cents per litre. On a 60-litre tank, that is $9 to $12 per fill-up.
• Time the cycle (Sydney and Melbourne). Fill up on Tuesday or Wednesday when prices are at the bottom of the cycle. Avoid Thursday and Friday when the spike typically hits.
• Use supermarket fuel dockets. Coles and Woolworths offer 4 cents per litre off through their loyalty programs when you spend $30 or more on groceries. Stack this with filling up on a cheap day for maximum savings.
• Consider E10 if your car supports it. E10 is typically 3 to 5 cents cheaper per litre than ULP91. The energy content is about 3% lower, but for most city driving the net saving is still positive.
• Avoid highway roadhouses. Regional highway stations, particularly in the NT, outback Queensland, and rural WA, charge significant premiums. Fill up in town before heading into remote areas.
• Fill the whole tank when it is cheap. If you catch the bottom of the price cycle or find a particularly cheap station, fill up completely rather than putting in $20. You will visit the pump less often and lock in the lower price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is petrol cheaper in WA?

Western Australia's FuelWatch scheme is the primary reason. Mandatory next-day price publishing with a 24-hour lock-in period creates genuine transparency, which forces retailers to compete on price. Stations cannot raise their price during the day to catch people who did not check before leaving home. The result is tighter margins and lower average prices compared to states without mandatory reporting.

When is the cheapest day to buy petrol?

In Sydney and Melbourne, Tuesday or Wednesday is typically the cheapest day, as these cities experience a pronounced weekly price cycle. In Perth, the cycle does not apply because FuelWatch locks prices for 24 hours — instead, simply check the FuelWatch website (or CheapestFuelFinder) the evening before for the next day's prices. In Brisbane and other capitals, there is no reliable weekly pattern, so checking prices before each fill-up is the best strategy.

What is FuelWatch?

FuelWatch is a Western Australian Government fuel price transparency scheme. Retailers must submit their next-day prices by 2:00 PM, and those prices are locked for 24 hours from 6:00 AM the next morning. The prices are published online the evening before they take effect, allowing consumers to plan ahead. The scheme covers all common fuel types and applies to stations in the Perth metro area and major regional centres.

How much of the pump price is tax?

Approximately 45 to 50 percent. The fuel excise is about 49 cents per litre, and 10% GST applies on top of the total (including the excise). For a litre priced at $1.80, roughly 65 cents goes to the government in excise and GST combined.

Will more states be added to CheapestFuelFinder?

Yes. We are actively working on integrating data from NSW FuelCheck, Queensland, South Australia, and other state government APIs. Western Australia (FuelWatch) is live now, and additional states will be added as their data feeds become available through public APIs. Check back regularly or follow our updates.