A litre of unleaded sells for around $1.92 in Sydney in June 2026. The breakdown is roughly: 80¢ for refined fuel itself, 50¢ in federal excise, 22¢ in GST, and the remaining ~40¢ across distribution, retailer margin, and the metro price cycle.
This petrol usage calculator uses those same inputs — kilometres driven and litres per 100 km — to give you a precise petrol cost estimate rather than a rough guess. The average Australian drives around 290 km a week in a 7.5 L/100km car, which works out to roughly $55–$60 per week on petrol at current prices — or $2,800–$3,100 per year. The exact figure depends heavily on your fuel consumption and which state you fill up in.
The metro price cycle matters more than the headline number. In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, retail prices swing 25–50¢ over a 2–4 week cycle. Filling up on the day before a cycle bottoms — easily tracked via FuelCheck or PetrolSpy — can save a typical driver $400+ a year.
Regional and remote drivers see less cycling but pay a permanent premium of 10–25¢/L for distribution. The Northern Territory sits at the top of every state league table for that reason.