What does a car really cost to fuel? Pick a car or enter its consumption, and see the cost per month, per year, per 100 km and per tank at the official October 2026 pump prices.
Choose a car, or enter a consumption figure, to see the cost.
What it costs to fuel South Africa's most popular cars
The 20 cars RideReport users research most, at 1 500 km a month with a 15% real-world allowance, using October 2026 pump prices. Change the kilometres above to update the table.
Cheapest to run first. Consumption is the combined-cycle figure from RideReport's model reports for a representative recent version of each model; your engine, year and driving will differ. Treasury has announced a temporary fuel levy cut from 4 November (R1.50/L off petrol, R3.00/L off diesel) until 1 December 2026, so pump prices change that day.
Fuel is only part of the monthly cost
Finance, insurance, servicing and tyres usually add up to more than fuel. Every free car report includes a total monthly cost for that exact car, and our depreciation calculator shows how much value a car loses each month. Comparing two cars? Use the car comparison tool.
Fuel cost questions
What is the petrol price in South Africa?
As at October 2026, 95 petrol costs R30.25 a litre inland and R29.38 at the coast, and 50ppm diesel costs about R33.29 a litre inland. Prices are set by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and change on the first Wednesday of each month. Treasury has announced a temporary fuel levy cut from 4 November (R1.50/L off petrol, R3.00/L off diesel) until 1 December 2026, so pump prices change that day.
How do I calculate the fuel cost of a car per month?
Multiply the kilometres you drive in a month by the car's consumption in litres per 100 km, divide by 100, then multiply by the price per litre. For example, 1,500 km a month at 7.5 L/100km and R30.25 a litre is 1,500 ÷ 100 × 7.5 × 30.25 = R3,403 a month.
Is diesel or petrol cheaper to run in South Africa?
Diesel costs more per litre (R33.29 against R30.25 for 95 petrol inland in October 2026), but diesel engines typically use roughly 15 to 25% less fuel for the same work, so the cost per 100 km is often close. The bigger differences are the higher purchase price of diesel vehicles and their servicing costs.
Is the rated fuel consumption what I will really get?
Usually not. Rated (combined cycle) figures are measured under test conditions. Real-world consumption is commonly 10 to 20% higher, more in stop-start city driving, with a heavy right foot, with a loaded vehicle or with the aircon on. The calculator has a real-world allowance switch for this.
Where do the consumption figures come from?
They are the combined-cycle consumption figures in RideReport's model reports, which are AI-assisted and drawn from manufacturer and market data for a representative recent version of each model. Treat them as a guide: your engine size, transmission and year change the real figure. You can always type your own L/100km.