Northern Territory Diesel Spread Hits 249 Cents as Remote Stations Charge Nearly Four Dollars a Litre

Here is a number that stopped me mid scroll this afternoon: 249 cents. That is the gap between the cheapest and most expensive diesel in the Northern Territory right now, making it the widest price spread of any state or territory in Australia by a substantial margin.

At one end, motorists near Darwin can find diesel for as low as 150.0 cents per litre. At the other, remote stations are charging up to 399.0 cents per litre, effectively asking drivers to pay nearly four dollars for every litre they pump. The territory wide average sits at 235.3 cents across 174 reporting stations, which is a notable 55 cents above the national cheapest state average.

The National Diesel Picture on 18th Feb 2026

To put the Northern Territory numbers in context, here is how every state stacks up today:

The data indicates something worth noting: the three cheapest state averages are separated by just 2.3 cents. Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia are clustered remarkably tightly between 180.2 and 180.5 cents per litre. Competition in those metro markets is clearly doing its job.

South Australia deserves particular attention. With a price spread of just 36.0 cents across 147 stations, it offers the most consistent pricing in the country. The cheapest diesel in SA sits at 165.9 cents while the most expensive is 201.9 cents. Compare that to NSW, where 1,067 stations span a 113 cent gap from 156.9 to 269.9 cents.

Why the Territory Pays More

The Northern Territory's extreme spread is not new, but 249 cents is among the widest gaps the data has recorded. The analysis reveals a familiar pattern: stations near Darwin and Alice Springs operate in competitive metro environments, keeping prices closer to the national average. Meanwhile, stations servicing remote highways and communities face substantial transport costs that get passed directly to motorists.

A driver filling a standard 60 litre tank at the cheapest NT station would pay $90. The same tank at a remote station charging 399.0 cents would cost $239.40. That is a difference of nearly $150 for the same fuel in the same territory.

NSW Records a Notable Overnight Increase

Interesting pattern emerging in New South Wales today. The state average jumped 16.8 cents overnight to 181.7 cents, a 10.2 percent increase. This pushes NSW from one of the cheaper states into the middle of the pack.

Despite the state level increase, suburban competition remains strong. Smithfield continues to lead as one of Sydney's cheapest diesel suburbs at 161.5 cents per litre across three stations, with an impressively tight spread of just 3.4 cents. Granville is showing identical pricing at 164.5 cents across all three of its stations, meaning zero spread, which is unusual.

Fairfield offers four stations averaging 164.9 cents, while Auburn sits at 167.1 cents with a 7.4 cent spread. The western suburbs corridor from Greenacre through to Marsden Park remains the sweet spot for Sydney diesel buyers, with prices consistently 15 to 20 cents below the state average.

Further south, Port Kembla near Wollongong is offering diesel from 159.9 cents, and Ingleburn has five stations averaging 169.5 cents, though the 21.4 cent spread there means shopping around matters.

SA Holds Steady as the Consistent Choice

South Australia recorded a modest 2.7 cent decrease overnight, bringing the average to 180.5 cents. What makes SA notable is not its headline price but its remarkable consistency. The 36 cent spread is the tightest of any mainland state, suggesting a market where competition is evenly distributed rather than concentrated in a few cheap pockets.

What the Numbers Tell Us

Statistically speaking, Australian motorists face wildly different fuel markets depending on geography. A driver in Adelaide can be reasonably confident of paying within a 36 cent band regardless of which servo they choose. A driver in the Northern Territory faces a market where the difference between the best and worst deal is $2.49 per litre.

For those filling up today, the data is clear: Smithfield and Granville in Sydney's west offer some of the most competitive diesel in the country, while South Australia remains the state where motorists face the least pricing uncertainty. And if you are planning a drive through the Territory, filling up in Darwin before heading bush could save you well over a hundred dollars on a single tank.

The numbers are clear: knowing where to fill up is worth more than ever, especially when the spread between best and worst is wider than most people's weekly fuel budget.