New South Wales Diesel Spread Hits 110 Cents as Regional and Metro Prices Diverge
A comprehensive analysis of the latest diesel pricing data across New South Wales reveals a striking 110 cent gap between the cheapest and most expensive servos in the state, highlighting just how much location can affect what motorists pay at the pump.
According to recent data, the NSW median diesel price has climbed 1.8 cents overnight to 182.2 cents per litre as of 26th Feb 2026 8:03am AEDT, making it the only Australian state to record a diesel increase. Victoria and Western Australia both saw falls of 0.7 cents, while Tasmania and the Northern Territory held steady.
But the state average only tells part of the story. Breaking down the regional differences, the cheapest diesel in NSW sits at just 159.5 cents per litre in Ingleburn, a full 110.4 cents below the most expensive price of 269.9 cents recorded elsewhere in the state. That is a difference of more than $16 on a standard 60 litre tank.
Where the cheapest diesel is hiding
The data paints a clear picture of where savvy diesel motorists should be looking. The southwestern Sydney suburb of Ingleburn leads the state with its 159.5 cent floor price, though the suburb's five stations show an average of 172.5 cents, indicating that even within one suburb, shopping around pays off.
Not far behind, Smithfield in the western suburbs is averaging 163.6 cents across three stations, with the cheapest servo at 161.5 cents and the most expensive at just 164.9 cents. That tight 3.4 cent spread makes Smithfield one of the most consistently affordable diesel pockets in the state.
Fairfield tells a similar story at 164.9 cents on average, though a wider 12.4 cent spread between its four stations means motorists need to check before filling up. Granville stands out as a rare case where all three stations are pricing diesel at an identical 164.5 cents, suggesting strong competitive pressure in the area.
Further out, Auburn averages 168.1 cents across four stations with a spread of 11.4 cents, while Marsden Park in the northwest is posting 173.6 cents on average. Both suburbs offer diesel well below the state median, though the gap between their cheapest and most expensive stations means the savings depend on which servo you choose.
Heading south to the Illawarra, Port Kembla offers regional motorists diesel from as low as 161.5 cents per litre, with an average of 170.3 cents across three stations. On the Mid North Coast, Wauchope presents notably tight pricing at 173.6 cents on average and just a 1.4 cent spread, one of the narrowest in the state.
NSW against the national picture
Historical data suggests that NSW diesel typically tracks closely with Victoria and Western Australia. In the latest data, however, the states have diverged. Victoria's 853 stations are averaging 180.5 cents for diesel, down 0.7 cents overnight. Western Australia's 443 stations sit at 181.1 cents, also down 0.7 cents.
Further afield, Tasmania is averaging 185.9 cents across 238 stations, while the ACT sits at 193.2 cents. The Northern Territory remains the most expensive jurisdiction at 235.5 cents, though regional towns like Katherine at 173.7 cents continue to buck the territory's broader pricing pattern.
The question is why NSW is moving in the opposite direction. With 1,066 diesel stations reporting data, the 1.0 percent climb from 180.4 to 182.2 cents represents a genuine statewide trend rather than isolated movements. Industry factors including supply chain logistics, distributor pricing, and competition density all contribute to these regional variations.
What the spread tells us
This pattern is consistent with what pricing analysts have observed for months. The 110.4 cent spread across NSW is the second widest of any state, behind only the Northern Territory's 249 cent gap. But unlike the NT, where remote community servos drive the extreme end, the expensive diesel in NSW is found closer to population centres, making the gap harder to explain.
For motorists running diesel vehicles, a 10 minute detour could easily save $10 or more per fill. In a suburb like Yagoona, where the cheapest servo is 162.9 cents and the average sits at 167.9 cents, even choosing the right station within your own neighbourhood makes a measurable difference.
For motorists willing to shop around, the data clearly demonstrates that location and timing remain the two most important factors in fuel savings. With NSW diesel climbing while the rest of the country softens, checking prices before heading to the bowser has never been more important for drivers across the state.
