Petrol Price Calculator

Working out what a trip really costs

Fuel is one of the few costs in a South African household budget that changes on a fixed schedule and is completely outside your control, so being able to estimate it before you drive is genuinely useful. The cost of any journey comes down to three numbers: how far you are going, how much fuel your car burns per 100 km, and the price per litre at the pump.

The calculation

litres used = distance (km) ÷ 100 × consumption (L/100km)
trip cost   = litres used × price per litre

Example: a 400 km drive, car using 7 L/100km, fuel at R23/L
  litres = 400 ÷ 100 × 7 = 28 L
  cost   = 28 × R23 = R644

For a monthly commute, multiply the daily distance by the number of working days and you have a fuel budget you can actually plan around.

Inland versus coastal prices

South Africa does not have a single national fuel price. Coastal provinces pay a little less because fuel is landed at the ports, while inland regions such as Gauteng carry an extra transport differential to move it up-country. The gap is usually a few cents to around a rand per litre, which adds up over a full tank and especially over a long trip between the coast and the interior.

What you are actually paying for

The pump price is built from several components: the Basic Fuel Price (driven by the international oil price and the rand/dollar exchange rate), the General Fuel Levy and the Road Accident Fund levy that both go to government, and the wholesale and retail margins. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy reviews and adjusts the regulated price monthly, with changes typically taking effect on the first Wednesday. Petrol is price-controlled at the pump; diesel is deregulated at wholesale, so its price varies more between stations.

Stretching a tank further

• Keep tyres at the correct pressure - under-inflation quietly raises consumption.
• Drive smoothly; hard acceleration and braking are where fuel disappears.
• Lighten the load and remove roof racks you are not using.
• Share lifts on a regular commute and plan trips to avoid backtracking.

Because the regulated price moves every month, always punch in the current figure for your fuel grade and region rather than relying on last month's number.