Fuel Cost Calculator for Victoria — VIC Local Guide 2025
This calculator is optimised for Victoria residents with local data points relevant to the VIC context. Whether you're in Melbourne or regional Victoria, the calculations apply Australia-wide with VIC-specific notes where relevant.
Victoria at a Glance — 2025
- Capital city: Melbourne
- State population: 6.7M
- Average metropolitan house price: $850,000
- Average weekly rent (Melbourne): $530/week
- Minimum wage: $24.10/hr (national rate, applies in VIC)
- Average fuel price: 195–215c/L
Cost of Living in Victoria
Melbourne has one of the highest costs of living among Australian capital cities. Housing is typically the largest expense, followed by transport, food and utilities. Understanding your financial position — using tools like this calculator — is important for effective budgeting in VIC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the cheapest petrol in Australia?
Perth generally has among the lowest petrol prices due to competitive local refining and distribution. Darwin and remote NT locations are typically most expensive due to transport costs. All major capitals experience weekly price cycles — fuel is cheapest on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Apps like GasBuddy, MotorMouth, NRMA/RACQ/RAA/RAC apps track real-time local prices.
What is the ATO cents per km rate for 2025?
The ATO cents per kilometre rate for 2024–25 is 88 cents per kilometre for the first 5,000 business kilometres. This all-inclusive rate covers fuel, servicing, tyres, insurance, registration and depreciation. Keep a journey log noting the date, destination, purpose and kilometres for each business trip.
Diesel vs petrol — which is better for a trade vehicle?
For high-mileage trade vehicles (30,000+ km/year), diesel is almost always better financially. Diesel engines typically achieve 10–20% better fuel economy than equivalent petrol, provide better towing torque, and modern diesel utes have much lower maintenance costs than older models. The higher purchase price is usually recovered within 2–3 years of regular use.
How do I track fuel for ATO purposes?
Keep a logbook for at least 12 continuous weeks once every 5 years (or when your vehicle use pattern changes significantly). Record: date, odometer reading, destination, journey purpose, kilometres. The business percentage calculated over 12 weeks applies to all vehicle expenses for up to 5 years. Fuel receipts must be kept for the logbook method.