Adelaide named Australia’s cheapest capital city for fuel in new data

Adelaide has claimed the fuel affordability crown for the first time since 2022, with prices finally stabilising after three years of market chaos. See where you can get it for cheapest.

Adelaide has been ranked number one for fuel affordability for the first time since 2022.

Adelaide has the cheapest fuel prices of any Australian capital city, according to new data released on Wednesday by the NRMA and federal government.

Until early December 2025, Adelaide drivers paid 173.3 cents per litre on average for regular unleaded petrol, almost ten cents per litre better than the 2024 average of 183 cents per litre.

In the eastern states, the average price was as much as 13 cpl more, with Brisbane motorists paying on average 186.2, while Melbourne drivers paid 182.4.

The cheapest fuel is located north of Adelaide in Blair Athol, priced at $1.55 cents per litre on Wednesday afternoon, while suburbs even further up north like Munno Para and Pooraka are priced at $1.56 cents and $1.58 cents respectively.

Other suburbs like Melrose Park, Clarence Gardens and Camden Park offer fuel at $1.59 cents per litre.

Whereas, this is a stark contrast to fuel found in the southern suburbs, which sit between $1.79 to $1.99 cents per litre.

To coincide with the release of the data, the NRMA will launch their “Fuel FOMO” campaign in Adelaide on Thursday.

The campaign will see the My NRMA app provide real time fuel price data to allow South Australians to find the best option for filling up when on the road this holiday season.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said the campaign was to make sure Australians made the most of cheaper petrol prices.

“Christmas costs can blow out for families and historically petrol prices have been a major factor for those cost increases – not this year and not if we can help it,” Mr Khoury said.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury. Picture: John Appleyard

“We know every dollar we can help families save at the bowser can be spent on the kids these holidays – there should be no fuel FOMO this Christmas.”

Mr Khoury said prices had finally “stabilised” after “three consecutive years of bedlam”, citing issues driving up prices including post-COVID supply and Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The last time Adelaide ranked number one for petrol affordability in the capital cities was 2022.

At that time, the average fuel price was 178.6 cpl.

“Across Australia, it is easier to find a bargain at the bowser than ever before after the NRMA’s successfully fought to get real-time data reforms introduced – a world first. By using this data, families can make significant savings and that’s money that can go towards the holidays,” Mr Khoury said.

Real-time data reforms were first introduced in 2016 in New South Wales, allowing motorists to access the data through the government and NRMA.

Similar reforms have now been introduced across every state and territory.

On Wednesday, the federal government directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to extend its fuel price monitoring program for an extra five years, to ensure consumers are getting a better deal.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has directed the federal government to extend an ACCC fuel monitoring program for another five years. Picture: John Gass

The current direction, which requires regular price monitoring and a quarterly report, expires in December.

In a statement from Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh, the government said the government was “determined” to make sure the fuel market is operating “as it should”.

“The direction will also allow the ACCC to keep reporting on emerging issues in the industry. The ACCC has delivered reports on important issues like market composition, price cycles, the financial performance of the industry, and how consumers can make the most of fuel price apps and websites,” the statement said.

Originally published as Adelaide named Australia’s cheapest capital city for fuel in new data