A litre of unleaded sells for around $1.92 in Sydney in May 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.
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.