With petrol prices hovering around ₹100/l in many cities, mileage affects monthly fuel costs and is the biggest deciding factor for many buyers. Mileage figures alone do not give a clear picture of ownership cost, and buyers really want to know:
“How much will my petrol car cost me every month?”
This guide answers real buyers' questions with real-world experience, providing monthly fuel costs for driving 500 km, 1000 km, and 1500 km, based on practical assumptions.
How Petrol Car Fuel Cost Is Calculated?
To calculate the petrol car's monthly fuel cost, only three inputs are required:
- Monthly distance driven (km)
- Real-world mileage (kmpl)
- Petrol price per litre (in your city)
Monthly Fuel Cost = (Monthly Distance ÷ Real-World Mileage) × Petrol Price
For calculation purposes, we assume:
- Petrol Price: ₹100/ litre
- Real-world mileage: 15 kmpl
Monthly Petrol Cost for 500 km Driving
At around 500 km per month, fuel consumption remains manageable.
Fuel consumed: 500 ÷ 15 = 33.3 litres
Monthly fuel cost: ₹3,330
Petrol cars remain the most practical and cost-effective, especially for city users, for low running (under 500 km/month).
Monthly Petrol Expense for 1000 km Driving
For most cities and urban users, 1000 km per month is common
Fuel consumed: 1000 ÷ 15 = 66.6 litres
Monthly fuel cost: ₹6,660
At this level, buyers start comparing with other fuels, such as petrol vs CNG or petrol vs hybrid.
Petrol Cost for High Usage above 1500 km monthly
If your usage exceeds 1500 km per month, fuel costs increase sharply.
Fuel consumed: 1500 ÷ 15 = 100 litres
Monthly fuel cost: ₹10,000
Above 1200-1500 km/month, petrol car running costs become expensive, and alternatives like CNG, diesel, or hybrids start making financial sense.
Petrol Car Monthly Fuel Expenses Comparison Table
Monthly Distance | Fuel Used (Approx.) | Monthly Petrol Cost |
500 km | 33 litres | ₹3,300 |
1000 km | 67 litres | ₹6,700 |
1500 km | 100 litres | ₹10,000 |
(Assuming petrol price ₹100/litre and real-world mileage 15 kmpl)*
What Affects Petrol Car Fuel Cost in Real Life?
In a real-world scenario, petrol car fuel cost per month can vary depending on the following factors:
- City Traffic & Stop-Go Driving
- Driving Style (Aggressive acceleration & frequent braking)
- AC Usage and other equipment
- Passengers and load/luggage inside the car
- Engine size and car weight
Petrol cars deliver their lowest mileage in bumper-to-bumper or heavy traffic with the AC on, which significantly increases monthly fuel cost.
Is a Petrol Car Worth It Based on Monthly Fuel Cost?
Petrol cars start to make sense if:
- Monthly driving is below 1000 km
- Usage is mostly city-based
- You want a lower upfront cost
- Maintenance simplicity matters
Petrol cars become expensive if:
- Monthly driving is 1200-1500 km
- Higher fuel prices in your city
- Daily long commutes (More than 50 km)
Before buying any petrol car, calculating the monthly petrol fuel cost is smarter than only trusting the ARAI mileage:
Use a Petrol Monthly Fuel Cost Calculator
Method to calculate the petrol car's monthly fuel cost:
- Your average monthly driving (in km)
- Real-world mileage of the petrol car
- Current petrol price per litre
By considering the above three values, you will get the monthly petrol cost and understand how much you will spend on fuel each month.
For a better understanding of the monthly fuel cost, here is the other fuel comparison table:
Fuel Type | Avg Real-World Mileage | Fuel Required (Approx.) | Monthly Fuel Cost | Cost per km | Key Observation |
Petrol | 15 km/l | 67 litres | ₹6,700 | ₹6.7/km | Simple, but expensive at higher usage |
Diesel | 20 km/l | 50 litres | ₹4,500 | ₹4.5/km | Efficient for highway users |
CNG | 25 km/kg | 40 kg | ₹3,200 | ₹3.2/km | Cheapest for city driving |
Strong Hybrid | 25 km/l | 40 litres | ₹4,000 | ₹4.0/km | Best balance without charging |
