NSW Diesel Jumps Over 4 Cents Overnight but Western Sydney Suburbs Are Still Doing the Right Thing

NSW Diesel Jumps Over 4 Cents Overnight but Western Sydney Suburbs Are Still Doing the Right Thing

Right, so if you filled up the ute or the SUV over the weekend, good on you. Because diesel across New South Wales has jumped 4.4 cents overnight, pushing the state average up to 181.8 cents a litre. That's a fair whack when you're running a tank through the week.

Here's the thing, right. The state average might be climbing, but not every servo has lost the plot. If you know where to look, and I reckon most of you lot in western Sydney already do, there are still suburbs keeping prices well under the 170 mark. We're talking 20 cents cheaper than some of the servos out in regional areas trying to take the mick.

Where the Deals Are Right Now

Let's start with the good news. Smithfield is sitting pretty with diesel averaging 163.6 cents across three servos, with the cheapest at 161.5. If you're out that way for work or dropping the kids at sport, worth topping up.

Granville is even tidier. All three stations there are locked at 164.5 cents. No spread at all, which tells you the competition between those servos is keeping everyone honest. That's how it should work.

Fairfield has four servos averaging 165.4, with the best price at 161.5 cents. Now there's a bit more variation here, one station is up at 175.9, so don't just pull into the first one you see. Check the board or have a look on Petrolmate before you commit.

Auburn is another solid pick at 164.5 cents for the cheapest, averaging 167.1 across four stations. And if you're heading south, Ingleburn has five servos with the best at 159.5 cents. Fair dinkum, that's over 22 cents cheaper than the state average.

The Bigger Picture Across NSW

So what's going on with this 4.4 cent jump? NSW diesel has gone from 177.4 to 181.8 cents on average, and the spread across the state is massive. We're talking 155.9 at the cheapest right up to 269.9 at the top end. That's a 114 cent gap, which is properly ridiculous.

The regional towns are where it really stings. If you're out past Heatherbrae on the mid north coast, even the cheapest there is 162.9 but the average sits at 172.2. And once you get further out, you're copping prices well above 200 cents.

Down at Port Kembla on the south coast, diesel is averaging 168.7 with the cheapest at 160.9. Not bad for a regional spot, actually. Worth keeping an eye on if you're heading down to the coast.

And for those of you doing the commute out to the new estates, Marsden Park in the northwest has three servos averaging 170.6 with the best at 164.9 cents.

How NSW Stacks Up

Now, you'd be mad not to compare what's happening here to the rest of the country. Victoria is averaging 179.8 for diesel, so about 2 cents cheaper than NSW. Western Australia is sitting at 180.4, basically the same ballpark.

But here's the kicker. South Australia is absolutely cleaning up at 173.5 cents average. That's more than 8 cents cheaper than what we're paying in NSW. Meanwhile, Queensland is at 189.1 and Tasmania at 185.4, so at least we're not copping it as bad as they are.

The real battlers are up in the Northern Territory where diesel averages 235.4 cents. And the spread up there is 249 cents. Some remote stations are pushing close to 400 cents a litre, which is just unbelievable.

What You Can Do About It

Look, diesel prices bounce around, that's just the reality. But the difference between the smart shopper and everyone else is about ten minutes of planning. The suburbs I mentioned, Smithfield, Granville, Fairfield, Auburn, and Ingleburn, are all within a pretty tight stretch of western Sydney. If your commute takes you near any of them, fill up there instead of wherever happens to be closest to home.

That 20 cent difference on a 60 litre tank is $12. Do that every week and you're looking at over $600 a year. That's a decent weekend away or a solid few nights out.

Also worth noting, Greenacre has a 26.3 cent spread across its four stations. The cheapest there is 159.7 but the most expensive is 186.0. Same suburb, same fuel, 26 cents apart. That's why you check before you fill.

End of the day, the state average might have jumped overnight but western Sydney is still holding the line. A bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Can't argue with that.