What Your Commute Costs in Petrol, and What 20 Cents a Litre Adds
Monthly and yearly petrol for a 25 km commute in three kinds of car, and the yearly cost of a 20 cent rise in the petrol price.
By the MoneyBackKit AU team · Updated 28 October 2026 · 2 min read
A 25 km drive each way to work is 50 km a day. Over a working year that adds up, and petrol price swings of 20 cents a litre are common across the price cycle.
What the commute costs in petrol
| Car | A month | A working year (11 months) | Extra a year if petrol is 20c dearer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small hatch (6 L/100 km) | $117 | $1,287 | $132 |
| Mid-size sedan (8 L/100 km) | $156 | $1,716 | $176 |
| Large SUV or ute (11 L/100 km) | $215 | $2,360 | $242 |
Cutting the cost
- Petrol prices in most capital cities rise and fall in a regular cycle. Fill up near the bottom; fuel price apps and state websites show live prices.
- Supermarket fuel discounts of a few cents a litre add up on a bigger tank.
- Keep tyres at the right pressure and take out heavy things you don't need in the boot.
- One or two days a week on public transport or working from home cuts the cost directly.