Understanding Average Monthly Gas Costs in Australia

The average gas bill Australia-wide is roughly $229 per quarter, which works out to $60 to $150 per month, depending on where you live and what you use gas for. That national number hides a lot of variation. A couple in Brisbane using gas for cooking and hot water will pay a fraction of what a family in Melbourne pays for ducted gas heating during winter. If you are setting up utilities at a new place, it is worth sorting out your gas plan at the same time that you Connect Electricity Today, so you can compare both and avoid landing on expensive default rates.

What Does the Average Gas Bill Look Like by State?

Your state is the single biggest factor in what you pay for gas. Climate drives heating demand, and heating demand drives usage. Here is how average quarterly gas bills compare across the country, based on Canstar Blue data from February 2026 and Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker:

State

Average quarterly gas bill

Average annual gas bill

 

Victoria

~$180–$250

~$720–$1,000+

South Australia

~$175–$220

~$700–$880

NSW

~$176

~$704

Queensland

~$170

~$676

Western Australia

~$161

~$640

Victoria and South Australia consistently sit at the top. Many Melbourne and Adelaide homes rely on ducted gas heating through winter, which pushes seasonal usage up by two to three times compared to the summer months. Queensland sits lower because most households there use gas for hot water and cooking only. Space heating is rarely needed for much of the year, so the bills stay modest.

What Is the Average Gas Bill for a 2-Person Household?

The average gas bill for a 2-person household is usually a bit lower than the national average, but the gap is smaller than you might think. That is because a large chunk of your gas bill is the fixed daily supply charge, which runs between 60 and 90 cents per day regardless of how much gas you actually use. You pay that whether you cook one meal or ten. For a couple using gas for hot water and cooking, monthly costs typically sit between $60 and $100 in most metro areas. Add gas heating to the mix, and that figure can jump to $120–$180 per month during winter, depending on your state and the efficiency of your system. The average gas bill for a 2-person household in a milder climate like Sydney or Brisbane will sit at the lower end of that range. A couple in Melbourne or Adelaide with gas heating will sit at the higher end, especially between June and August.

Why Is the Average Gas Bill in Melbourne So High?

The average gas bill Melbourne households pay is around $180 per quarter, or roughly $720 per year. That figure is about 8% above the national average. For households with gas central heating, the annual cost can push well past $1,000.

Melbourne's colder winters are the obvious reason. A lot of older Melbourne homes were built with ducted gas heating as the default, and those systems pull heavy usage through the cooler months. A three-person Melbourne household with gas heating and hot water can expect annual bills in the low-to-mid $1,000s, according to Zembl's 2026 analysis. The average gas bill in Melbourne also reflects the fact that Victoria has some of the highest residential gas usage rates in Australia. The trade-off is that Victoria also has the most competitive retail gas market, with a large number of retailers competing for customers. That means there is room to save if you compare plans.

How Your Gas Bill Is Calculated

Every gas bill in Australia has two parts:

  • Usage charge (c/MJ): This is what you pay per megajoule of gas consumed. Rates typically range from 2.45 c/MJ in Queensland to 3.05 c/MJ in South Australia.
  • Daily supply charge: This is a fixed daily fee for staying connected to the gas network. It applies even on days you use zero gas.

Your annual bill is calculated as: (usage rate x annual MJ used) + (daily supply charge x 365). For plans from retailers like Energy Australia, you can check the specific rates for your postcode. Energy Australia Plans in NSW and Victoria include both flat-rate and time-of-use options, so it is worth checking which structure suits your household's usage pattern.

A Few Practical Ways to Keep Your Gas Bill Down

You do not need to overhaul your house to see a difference. A few targeted changes can trim your average gas bill in Australia noticeably:

  • Lower your hot water thermostat to 60°C: Many systems are set higher than necessary. 60°C is the minimum safe temperature to prevent bacteria, and anything above that is costing you money for no real benefit.
  • Cut your shower time by two minutes: Hot water heating accounts for a large share of household gas use. Two fewer minutes per shower, per person, adds up quickly across a quarter.
  • Shut heating vents in unused rooms: If you have ducted gas heating, closing vents in rooms nobody is using means the system heats less space.
  • Compare plans annually: Gas retailers update their pricing regularly. If you have not reviewed your plan in over 12 months, you could be paying more than you need to. OVO Energy Plans, for example, include competitive electricity rates and a 3% interest reward when your account is in credit, though OVO does not currently offer gas plans in Australia. If you need both electricity and gas, check which retailers offer bundled rates for both

Wrapping Up!

The average gas bill Australia-wide looks manageable on paper, but your actual costs depend heavily on your state, your household size, and whether you use gas for heating. If your quarterly bill is consistently above the state averages listed here, it is probably time to compare what else is out there. Small changes in usage and a quick plan comparison can take a real chunk off your next bill.

Location: 45 Jells Rd, Wheelers Hill VIC 3150, Australia

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