Roma Unleaded Drops to 172.8 as Regional Queensland Pulls Away From the Cities
Right, so I've been keeping an eye on the Queensland numbers this week and there's a ripper of a story playing out west of the range. While the big smoke holds steady, a handful of regional towns are doing the right thing by locals and pulling their petrol prices down well below what the rest of us are copping.
Top of the pile is Roma, out in the Maranoa. As of the morning of 24th May 2026 at 8:15am AEST, unleaded out there has come back 13 cents over the week to sit at 172.8. Fair dinkum, 172.8. That's the kind of number that makes you want to top up the jerry cans while you're parked at the bowser. Compared to most of the state sitting up in the 190s and beyond, the folks in Roma are laughing.
Not far behind is Warwick down on the Southern Downs. Unleaded there has dropped a solid 15 cents to land at 181.9. Now, that's still nine cents dearer than Roma, but for a town that size it's a fair effort, and well worth a look if you're heading through on the New England Highway.
What it means for your wallet
Here's the thing, right. These two towns are showing exactly how the fuel cycle works in your favour if you time it. When the regional servos slide toward the bottom of the cycle, the gap between the cheapest and the dearest can blow out to 20 cents a litre or more. On a 60 litre tank that's twelve bucks, which is a couple of slabs or a decent week of coffees, depending how you like to spend it.
It's not only the everyday unleaded petrol coming down, either. Over on the Gold Coast, Southport has seen premium 98 drop more than 15 cents to 200.4. If you drive one of the fussier engines that needs the good stuff, that's a rare bit of relief, because the premium gear usually cops it the hardest when prices climb.
Diesel's the catch this week
Now, before you get too comfortable, I'll give it to you straight. Diesel's climbing. The statewide diesel average has crept up nearly six cents over the past day to 232.8, so the truckies and the ute brigade aren't getting the same love as the petrol crowd this week. Up in the far north, Ingham has copped a 12 cent jump on diesel to 226.9, which is the sort of move that tells you the cheap window has shut up that way.
If you're chasing diesel value, the southeast corner is still your best bet. Monkland near Gympie is sitting around 206.7 for the cheapest, and Beaudesert and Maryborough are both holding in the low 210s. Worth keeping an eye on if you're running a diesel and you're out that way anyway.
What I reckon
So what's the play here? If you're anywhere near Roma or Warwick over the next few days, fill right up, because these bottom of the cycle prices never hang about for long. The servos know it too, and the rebound usually comes on quick once the cheap mob have had their run.
For the rest of you in Brisbane and the bigger centres, the petrol cycle hasn't bottomed out just yet, so it pays to do your homework before you commit. Keep half an eye on the cheaper outer suburbs rather than just rolling into the first servo you see on the way home from work. The difference between a smart fill and a lazy one is real money.
Look, end of the day, Queensland's pulling in two directions right now. Petrol's doing motorists a favour out in the regions while diesel quietly ticks the other way. A bit of planning, a quick squiz at the map before you head off, and you'll be keeping more cash in your pocket for the stuff that actually matters. Can't argue with that.
