Petrol vs Gas: What's the Difference?
There's no difference in the fuel itself. "Petrol" and "gas" (short for gasoline) are simply regional terms for the same thing. In the UK, India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, and most Commonwealth countries, it's called petrol. In the United States and Canada, people say gas or gasoline.
This calculator uses "petrol" to match the terminology used in regions where that term is common, but the math works exactly the same regardless of what you call it.
How to Calculate Petrol Cost
Calculating your petrol trip cost is straightforward:
- Find your journey distance in kilometers or miles
- Check current petrol prices per liter (or per gallon)
- Know your vehicle's fuel consumption (mileage) in km/L or L/100km
- Use the formula: Fuel needed = Distance ÷ Mileage (if using km/L)
- Multiply fuel needed by price per liter to get total cost
Fuel needed = 200 ÷ 15 = 13.33 liters
Total cost = 13.33 × ₹105 = ₹1,400
Convert to km and L/100km, then calculate
Result: approximately £23.50
Tips for Different Regions
UK: Petrol prices are typically shown per liter. Vehicle efficiency is often given in MPG (UK imperial gallons). Remember UK gallons are larger than US gallons.
India & Pakistan: Prices are per liter in rupees. Vehicle mileage is commonly expressed in km/L. A typical small car might give 15-20 km/L in city conditions.
Australia: Uses liters and kilometers. Petrol prices fluctuate by region, with remote areas typically more expensive.