Fuel price surge is back in Adelaide with outlets offering prices over $2 per litre

Expensive fuel is back across SA, with most metropolitan Adelaide service stations selling it for 225.5 cents a litre – the highest in the state’s history. See where you can still fill up for under $2.

The cost of petrol has skyrocketed to the highest prices in South Australian history.

A select number of retailers are offering unleaded petrol under $2/L, but most exceed $2.20/L.

The Advertiser can reveal the cheapest price in Adelaide can be found north where United Petroleum Elizabeth South and Costco Kilburn are selling petrol at $1.82/L.

Closer to the city you can find 185.5 cents a litre at United Adelaide Airport and multiple other United outlets in the western suburbs including at Flinders Park, Welland and Pennington.

The most common price service stations are currently advertising across metropolitan Adelaide is a whopping 225.5 cents a litre.

RAA fuel expert Mark Borlace said supply pressures spanning from the Ukrainian war have affected prices.

“Prices are the highest we’ve seen since we’ve been keeping records for about 15 years,” Mr Borlace said.

“There’s a demand for almost all carbon fuels and petrols is caught up in the middle of that.”

He said if the fuel excise, which eases hip pocket pain by more than 20 cents a litre, was not applicable, petrol would currently be advertised at close to $2.50/L.

The terminal gate price on Tuesday morning was $2.02/L.

Customers won’t see any relief at the bowser until after the long weekend, Mr Borlace predicted.

“The last three prices cycles have dropped back down in about two weeks … that gives some people strategically a better option to hold out if they’ve just filled up before the spike,” he said.

He recommended travellers check regional locations if driving to the regions this long weekend as prices are below $2/L at certain outlets including at Port Wakefield.

One outlet in both Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier have their prices for unleaded 91 listed at 191.1 cents per litre.

“The advice is the same old advice, shop around … even during the normal cycle we're still seeing about a 10 cent gap in the market,” he said.