Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate how much a drive costs in fuel, based on distance, your car's consumption and price per liter — or the other way around: how far a given fuel budget will take you.
How to use the fuel cost calculator
- Enter the distance you'll be driving.
- Enter your car's average consumption in liters per 100 km — you'll often find this on the dashboard or in the owner's manual.
- Enter today's fuel price — the calculator shows total cost and price per kilometer.
How the fuel cost is calculated
The calculator first works out how many liters the trip requires, then multiplies by the price per liter:
Cost = Liters used × Price per liter
Driving 45 km with a car that uses 6 liters per 100 km, at a price of $1.50 per liter, gives a cost of 45 × 0.06 × 1.50 = $4.05.
The "How far for a budget?" tab flips the calculation around: you enter how much you want to spend on fuel, and the calculator works out how many kilometers that covers, given consumption and price.
Driving style matters more than most people think
The consumption figure you enter is an average — but the spread around it is wide, and driven mainly by how and where you drive. Aerodynamic drag grows with the square of speed, so consumption per kilometre rises noticeably from eighty to a hundred and again from a hundred to a hundred and twenty. Hard acceleration followed by braking throws away energy already spent, while steady speed and lifting off early give far lower consumption.
Cold starts are the other big item. An engine uses substantially more fuel before reaching operating temperature, so short urban trips can produce consumption far above the official figure. Roof racks and roof boxes increase drag considerably even when empty, and should be taken off when not in use.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my car's actual fuel consumption?
Note the odometer reading and fill the tank completely. Drive as usual until you need to refuel, note the amount you fill and the distance driven since last time. Consumption = fuel ÷ distance × 100.
Should I use the official rated consumption figure?
Official test figures give a good starting point for comparing cars, but real-world consumption in everyday driving, especially in winter and city driving, is often 10–30% higher.
I have a fixed fuel budget — how far can I drive?
Use the "How far for a budget?" tab. Enter your budget, your car's consumption and the fuel price — the calculator works out the maximum distance your budget covers. Useful for planning a longer road trip with a realistic driving budget in advance.