Melbourne Western Suburbs Petrol Prices Jump Up to 44 Cents While Melton Drops Nearly 50
Right, so if you reckon petrol prices in Melbourne are doing anything predictable this week, I've got some news for you. The western suburbs are absolutely all over the shop, and depending on which servo you pull into, you're either saving a fortune or copping it sweet.
Here's the thing, right. Sunshine unleaded has jumped a massive 44.2 cents to sit around 199.9 cents a litre. That's basically two bucks a litre for standard unleaded. Meanwhile, just up the road in Melton, premium 95 has dropped nearly 48 cents overnight to 181.9. I've been watching fuel prices for years and that kind of split between suburbs barely 30 minutes apart still catches me off guard.
Now, you'd be mad not to check Melton if you're anywhere near the outer west. Premium 98 has also come down over 42 cents there to around 196.5 cents. When your premium fuel is cheaper than someone else's regular unleaded, that tells you everything about how wild the cycle is running right now.
The Western Suburbs Are Wearing It
Tarneit is another one copping a fair whack. Unleaded there has gone up 30.7 cents to 184.1 cents a litre. Premium 98 in Tarneit is up nearly 28 cents as well. Taylors Lakes is in the same boat with unleaded climbing 27.6 cents to 179.5.
Even Moonee Ponds, which is closer to the city, has seen unleaded jump 22.7 cents to around 180.6 cents. So it's not just the outer ring suburbs getting stung.
Fair dinkum, the difference between filling up in Sunshine at nearly 200 cents and driving out to Melton where prices are well under 182 is about $9 on a 50 litre tank. That's a couple of decent coffees or close to a six pack, depending on your priorities.
Where the Savings Are Hiding
If you're further north, Broadmeadows premium 95 has gone up 31.6 cents to 200.5, and Craigieburn is right behind with increases of 25 to 30 cents across most fuel types. Thomastown E10 is up 29.2 cents to 182.1, which is a fair hit for what should be the budget option.
But here's where it gets interesting. Ferntree Gully in the eastern suburbs has seen E10 drop 30.8 cents to 165.9 cents. That's one of the cheapest E10 prices I've seen around Melbourne this month. If your car runs on E10 and you're anywhere near the outer east, that's worth keeping an eye on.
For diesel, Victoria as a whole has ticked down about a cent to sit around 179.8 on average. Deer Park out west is sitting at 162.5 if you shop around, and Hoppers Crossing has servos from 162.9. Both of those are well under the state average, which is handy if you're running a tradie ute or a diesel SUV.
What This Means for Your Week
Look, this is textbook Melbourne fuel cycle stuff. The western corridor from Sunshine through Tarneit and Taylors Lakes is right at the top of the cycle, while Melton and Ferntree Gully are still sitting in the low part. If you can hold off filling up in those expensive suburbs for even a day or two, there's a good chance prices will start coming back down.
The northern suburbs around Craigieburn and Broadmeadows tend to follow the western suburbs by a day or so, so if you're up that way, you might still have a narrow window to fill up before it gets worse.
For anyone out in Moe or Epsom in regional Victoria, diesel is still competitive at 158.5 and 159.9 respectively. Regional servos have been doing the right thing by locals lately, often beating metro prices by a solid margin.
End of the day, a bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Check your local prices before you head out, and if you're near Melton or Ferntree Gully, now's the time to top up. Can't argue with that.
