Global diesel pricing
Global Comparison
Diesel in Australia has become much more expensive than it used to be, but how do we compare against the rest of the world? It is cheaper than I expected, which is a pleasant surprise.
The top five lowest countries:
- Japan
- Korea
- Turkey
- Australia
- Slovenia
The top five highest countries:
- Switzerland
- Finland
- Norway
- Estonia
- Greece
Australia sits in the middle when it comes to fuel prices and taxes. The average fuel price is 119¢/litre, with 67 of those being tax. That means more than half of what Australians pay at the bowser is government tax.
Australia’s fuel is more expensive compared to the United States and Canada. In the US, the fuel price is similar at 120¢, but the tax is just 25¢. Canada’s fuel price is slightly higher at 124¢, but the tax is only 32¢. These countries keep fuel taxes low to support drivers and industry.
On the other hand, many European countries have much higher fuel taxes. In France, the tax is 145¢ with a fuel price of 126¢. The UK and Italy have similar figures, with taxes often higher than fuel. These high taxes are often used to fund government spending and encourage people to use less fuel.
The first chart below shows the diesel price split into cost and tax. The second chart shows the tax. The third chart shows the ratio of tax to cost. Australia is highlighted in pink.
