Petrol prices: how many hours you work to fill the tank

Petrol is one of the most visible costs in the household budget, and it hasn't come back down. In its latest statement, the Reserve Bank noted that oil prices have eased a little in recent weeks, but energy and related commodity prices are still higher than before the conflict in the Middle East (RBA).

What the government has done

The 2026 federal budget included a fuel excise cut costing $2.55 billion, designed to take about $19 off the price of a 65 litre tank. Every state except Queensland and Victoria then agreed to a GST deal cutting a further 6 cents a litre (Wikipedia). On a 65 litre tank, that extra 6 cents is worth about $3.90.

Your tank, in hours of work

A price per litre doesn't mean much on its own. Here's how long you'd work, after tax, to fill a 65 litre tank at an example price of $2.00 a litre ($130 a tank).

Full time, 38 hours a week, 2026–27 resident tax rates and Medicare levy. $26.44 is the National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026. Swap in your local price: every 10 cents a litre changes a tank by $6.50.

The hidden cost: pre-tax pay

If you fill up once a week, that's about $6,760 a year from your after-tax pay. On an $85,000 salary, you'd need roughly $9,941 of extra gross income to cover it. That's why small savings per litre add up to real money.

Ways to cut the bill

Common tactics include using a fuel price app to find the cheapest station nearby, filling up on the cheaper days of your city's price cycle, and checking whether your employer offers salary packaging or work-from-home days. If you drive for work, keep a logbook, since work-related car expenses may be deductible.

See your after-tax hourly rate