Regional Victoria Diesel Prices Beat Melbourne Metro and Here Is Where to Fill Up

Right, so here's something that'll make you scratch your head. Everyone reckons regional servos charge an arm and a leg because they've got you over a barrel. No competition, captive market, all that. But the numbers this week are telling a different story, and I reckon you'll wanna hear about it.

Victoria diesel is sitting at an average of 182.5 cents per litre across the state. Nothing flash about that. But here's where it gets interesting. Some of the cheapest diesel in the state right now isn't in Melbourne. It's out in the regional towns where you'd normally expect to cop it sweet for being off the beaten track.

Gippsland Leading the Charge

Take Moe for example. This little town in Gippsland is showing diesel as low as 159.5 cents. That's a full 23 cents cheaper than the state average. The average across the five servos there is sitting at 165.9 cents with the dearest at 180.9 cents. So even at the priciest servo in Moe, you're still doing better than the state average.

Now, you'd be mad not to check out what's happening in the northeast. Bright is coming in at 164.9 cents for the cheapest diesel, averaging 169.6 cents across three servos. And just up the road, Myrtleford is showing 167.5 cents at its cheapest, averaging 170.6 cents.

Fair dinkum, the difference between these regional prices and what some Melbourne drivers are paying is staggering. Over in Dandenong South, diesel has just jumped nearly 11 cents to 180.8 cents average. Coburg has copped a 10.5 cent increase, now sitting at 182.5 cents. And Thomastown is up over 10 cents to 173.2 cents average.

The Bendigo Corridor

Epsom, out near Bendigo, deserves a mention. The cheapest diesel there is 162.1 cents, though the spread is pretty wild at nearly 25 cents. Worth keeping an eye on which servo you pull into. The average is 170.4 cents, which still beats plenty of Melbourne suburbs.

Further afield, Cobram on the Murray is showing 169.9 cents at the cheapest, averaging 174.2 cents. And way out west, Casterton is coming in at 168.9 cents cheapest, 171.2 cents average.

What Is Going On Here

Look, there's a few things happening. Melbourne servos tend to move together when the cycle kicks in. When prices go up in the metro area, they go up pretty much everywhere at once. Regional servos don't always follow the same pattern. They're often slower to put prices up and quicker to bring them down when wholesale costs drop.

The other thing is competition. Might sound backwards, but some of these regional towns have two or three servos really going at it for the local trade. Moe is a great example. Five servos in a town that size means they're all watching each other like hawks. That 21 cent spread between cheapest and dearest shows someone is fighting hard for business.

Compare that to some Melbourne industrial areas where trucking companies just need to fill up and get moving. Less price sensitivity means less pressure to compete.

The Bottom Line for Motorists

If you're heading out of Melbourne this week and your tank's looking a bit sad, here's the thing, right. It might actually pay to wait until you hit the regions to fill up. That's the opposite of what most people do, topping up before they leave the city.

For anyone doing regular trips between Melbourne and Gippsland, the Moe servos are worth a detour. You're looking at potential savings of 15 to 20 cents a litre compared to filling up in the outer eastern suburbs.

Same goes for the northeast run. If you're heading to the snowfields or just doing a weekend trip to Bright, don't stress about filling up before you leave. The diesel prices up there are competitive with anything you'll find closer to home.

Look, end of the day, a bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Whether that's an extra night's accommodation, a decent meal, or just having more left over for the next fill. Can't argue with that.

The VIC state average of 182.5 cents is what it is. But with regional servos offering prices in the low 160s, there's genuine value out there if you know where to look. Worth keeping an eye on the Petrolmate map to check prices before you head out.