WA Petrol Prices Buck the National Trend as Kununurra Servo Spread Blows Past a Dollar
A comprehensive analysis of this week's fuel pricing data reveals that Western Australia is the only Australian state where prices have actually fallen, even as motorists in every other jurisdiction are paying more at the bowser.
According to the latest figures compiled on 20th Mar 2026, the average fuel price across WA dropped 1.5 cents per litre overnight to 286.9 cents, while New South Wales recorded the sharpest increase at 12 cents, Victoria climbed 3.1 cents, and Queensland edged up 2.3 cents. Even South Australia and Tasmania, which have been relatively stable in recent weeks, ticked slightly higher.
The data paints a clear picture of a national squeeze that WA motorists are, for now, being spared.
Perth Metro Suburbs Leading the Charge
Drilling down into the specifics, several Perth metro suburbs are showing some of the most competitive unleaded pricing in the country right now. Bassendean, in Perth's northeast, is averaging 278.4 cents across three servos with the cheapest board price sitting at 269.3 cents. Nearby Naval Base, in the industrial corridor south of Fremantle, has four stations averaging 280.8 cents, with at least one operator listing 269.9 cents.
Further south, Anketell is showing a rare sight in Australian fuel pricing: all three of its stations are locked at exactly the same price of 279.9 cents. Whether that is genuine competition or coordinated pricing is a question industry watchers have debated for years, but for local motorists the consistency at least removes the guesswork.
Byford, a growing suburb on Perth's southern fringe, is averaging 274.2 cents with a tight 7 cent spread, while Pinjarra, about 85 kilometres south of the CBD, has five stations clustered between 275.5 and 283.9 cents. Waroona, further down the South Western Highway, rounds out the competitive corridor at 281 cents on average.
For Perth drivers filling a 50 litre tank with standard unleaded, shopping around across these suburbs could mean a saving of roughly $5 to $10 compared to higher priced metro stations, which are still listing above 290 cents in some pockets.
Kununurra: A $1.12 Spread in One Town
But the most striking number in today's data comes from the far north. Kununurra, the gateway to the Kimberley and one of Australia's most remote towns with commercial fuel infrastructure, has a price spread of 112.4 cents per litre across just five stations.
The cheapest servo in Kununurra is listing 199.5 cents, making it one of the few places in Australia where motorists can still fill up for under $2 a litre. The most expensive station in the same town is charging 311.9 cents. That is a difference of more than a dollar on every single litre, and for a driver topping up a 70 litre tank on a touring vehicle, the gap between the cheapest and dearest works out to roughly $78.
This pattern is consistent with what we have reported across other remote Australian towns. Regional pricing often reflects the cost of transporting fuel over vast distances, but a spread this wide within a single postcode suggests factors beyond logistics are at play. Some operators absorb freight costs to attract volume, while others pass every cent through to the motorist.
How WA Compares to the Rest of the Country
Breaking down the regional differences, WA is currently sitting at the second cheapest state average at 286.9 cents, just behind Victoria at 286.0 cents. NSW is the most expensive mainland state at 291.4 cents, and Queensland is close behind at 289.9 cents.
The ACT remains the tightest market in the country, with just a 4 cent spread between cheapest and dearest across its 22 stations. By contrast, the Northern Territory has the widest spread at 251.7 cents, driven by enormous differences between urban Darwin pricing and outback servos that can charge close to $4 a litre.
South Australia is sitting at 288.6 cents with a 31 cent spread across 40 monitored stations, making it one of the more predictable markets for motorists who prefer to know roughly what they will pay before pulling in.
What This Means for WA Motorists
Historical data suggests that WA's price drops tend to be short lived when the rest of the country is climbing. The state's relative isolation from eastern seaboard wholesale markets means it can move independently for a few days, but national trends usually catch up within a week.
For motorists willing to shop around, the data clearly demonstrates that location and timing remain the two most important factors in fuel savings. Perth drivers should take advantage of the current dip, particularly in suburbs like Bassendean, Naval Base, and Byford where competition is keeping prices honest. And for anyone planning a Kimberley road trip through Kununurra, checking prices before you fill could save you close to $80 on a single tank.
Use our interactive fuel map to find the cheapest unleaded near you before your next fill up.
