Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate the fuel cost for any trip in South Africa. Enter the distance, your car's fuel consumption, and the current petrol or diesel price to get the total trip cost. Includes common SA routes: Johannesburg–Cape Town (1,406km), JHB–Durban (570km), and more.
Quick Calculator Get a fast estimate
km
l/100km
Average SA car: 8–10 l/100km. Check your vehicle spec.
R/l
Petrol 95: ~R23.50/l | Diesel: ~R22.00/l (2026 national average)
Total Fuel Cost
R 188
Litres Used
8 litres
Total Distance
100 km
Cost per km
R 1,88
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How to Use the Fuel Cost Calculator
- Distance: Enter the trip distance in kilometres. Use the common SA routes as reference.
- Fuel Consumption: Your car's l/100km rating — usually found in the vehicle manual or service record.
- Fuel Type: Select petrol or diesel to auto-fill the current national price, or choose "Custom" to enter your local price.
- Passengers: Enter the number of people to split the cost per person.
The Extended Calculator below adds single trip, daily commute, and road trip tabs with a trip bar chart. The Professional Calculator compares ICE vs EV with 5-year projection and break-even analysis.
Need more detail?
Extended Calculator More options, charts, and scenario comparison
R
R
Trip Cost
R 180.00
Fuel Used
8.0 L
Fuel Cost
R 180.00
Per Person
R 180.00
Per km
R 1.80
Fuel Cost Formula
Litres Used = (Distance ÷ 100) × Consumption (l/100km)
Fuel Cost = Litres Used × Fuel Price (R/litre)
Cost per Person = Total Cost ÷ Passengers
Common SA Road Trip Costs (2026)
Estimated fuel costs at 8 l/100km, R23.50/litre petrol
Johannesburg — Cape Town (1,406km): R2,643
Johannesburg — Durban (570km): R1,072
Cape Town — Port Elizabeth (769km): R1,446
Johannesburg — Pretoria (58km): R109
Johannesburg — Bloemfontein (395km): R743
Return trips double these amounts. Prices based on 95 ULP petrol at R23.50/litre.
Need full precision?
Professional Calculator Complete parameters, sensitivity analysis, and detailed breakdown
R
R
Monthly Petrol/Diesel Cost
R 3375.00
Fuel Only
R 2700.00
Maintenance
R 675.00
Cost per km
R 2.25
Litres Used
120 L
5-Year Annual Cost Comparison
Electric Vehicle Comparison
R
ICE Vehicle
R 3375.00/mo
R 40500.00/year
Electric Vehicle
R 799.50/mo
R 9594.00/year
EV saves R 2575.50/month. Break-even on R200k premium: 6.5 years (78 months)
Carpooling Savings
Solo Cost
R 3375.00
Your Share
R 1687.50
Monthly Saving
R 1687.50
Annual Saving
R 20250.00
Frequently Asked Questions
As of early 2026, petrol 95 ULP costs approximately R23.50/litre and diesel (50ppm) approximately R22.00/litre. SA fuel prices are regulated monthly by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.
Fuel cost = (Distance ÷ 100) × consumption (l/100km) × price (R/litre). For JHB to Durban (570km) at 8l/100km at R23.50: (570÷100) × 8 × 23.50 = R1,071.60.
Average SA car: 8–10 l/100km. Small hatchbacks (Polo, Swift): 6–7 l/100km. Sedans/SUVs: 8–12 l/100km. Bakkies/4x4s: 10–16 l/100km. Hybrids: 4–6 l/100km.
The road distance from Johannesburg to Cape Town is approximately 1,406 km, taking 14–15 hours to drive. JHB to Durban: 570km (5–6hrs). Cape Town to PE: 769km (7–8hrs).
Maintain correct tyre pressure, remove roof racks when not in use, avoid rapid acceleration, keep highway speeds at 100–110 km/h, service your vehicle regularly, and carpool to split costs.