WA Diesel Drops Nearly 19 Cents Overnight and Perth Suburbs Are Cleaning Up
Right, so if you're filling up a ute or SUV anywhere in Western Australia today, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Diesel prices across the state have come down nearly 19 cents overnight, and some of the Perth outer suburbs are sitting under 160 cents a litre. That's the kind of drop that makes you do a double take at the bowser.
The statewide average for diesel has gone from 198.9 cents down to 180.3 cents. Now, that's still not exactly loose change, but a drop of 18.6 cents in one hit is pretty rare. If you've got an 80 litre tank on your dual cab, that's roughly $15 back in your pocket compared to yesterday. That's a carton of mid strength, near enough.
Where to Fill Up in Perth
Here's the thing, right. Not every servo is passing on the savings equally. Some suburbs are absolutely cleaning up while others are dragging their feet. If you're south of the river, Forrestdale has diesel as low as 153.9 cents a litre. Fair dinkum, that's the cheapest I've seen in WA in a while. Byford is averaging 162 cents with the cheapest servo at 159.5, and Kwinana Beach has five servos competing, with the best at 157.3 cents.
Baldivis is another one worth a look at 158.3 cents at the cheapest, and Morley up north is showing 157.5 cents if you know where to look. That's more than 20 cents under the state average.
Now, you'd be mad not to check Bassendean as well. The cheapest servo there is at 161.3 cents, though the most expensive is still sitting at 174.9. That's a 13 cent spread within the same suburb, which tells you the competition is still working itself out.
The Spread Tells the Real Story
The statewide spread on diesel is 78.8 cents, from 151.1 at the very bottom right up to 229.9 somewhere charging an arm and a leg. That's a massive gap, and it means where you fill up matters more than ever.
Osborne Park is a perfect example. The cheapest servo is at 163.5 cents but the dearest is at 183.9. Twenty cents difference for driving an extra five minutes. Worth keeping an eye on.
Regional WA is getting in on the action too. Geraldton has diesel from 164.5 cents with a tight spread across seven servos. Albany is averaging 172.4 cents, and Busselton down south sits at 169 cents at the cheapest. Even East Bunbury is competitive at 163.7 cents.
How Does WA Compare?
Look, WA was one of the dearest states for diesel yesterday, and now it's sitting second cheapest behind South Australia at 175.9 cents. NSW is at 181.8 (and actually went UP 7.3 cents overnight), Victoria is flat at 181.3, and Queensland is at 182.1.
The Northern Territory is still in its own league at 235.5 cents average, with some remote servos charging up to 399 cents. That's the reality of living in the outback, but it doesn't make it any easier to cop.
Tasmania sits at 185.5 cents average but has some servos as low as 159.9, so there are deals to be found if you know where to look. Check the interactive fuel map if you're travelling.
What Should You Do?
If you're in Perth or anywhere in WA, today is the day to fill up. These overnight drops don't always stick around, and servos can adjust upwards just as quickly. The southern suburbs especially, around Forrestdale, Byford, and Kwinana Beach, are your best bets right now.
For the tradies and anyone running a fleet, the difference between filling up in Forrestdale at 153.9 and copping 229.9 at the wrong servo is $60 on a single tank. Over a week of driving, that adds up to real money.
And if you're in NSW, I reckon you'll want to keep an eye on things. While WA dropped nearly 19 cents, NSW diesel actually climbed 7.3 cents. That's a 26 cent swing between the two states in a single day. Could be a sign of where the cycle is heading.
Look, end of the day, a bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Can't argue with that.
