How to Calculate Your Monthly Fuel Cost in Pakistan (With Worked Examples)

Fuel is one of the few expenses that moves up and down every few weeks, so many people have only a rough idea of what it costs them each month. The good news is that you can work it out with three numbers and a calculator. This guide shows the method, then walks through three realistic examples.

The examples use an illustrative price of Rs 400 per litre so the arithmetic is easy to follow. For your own figures, use the current price from the price table on our home page.

The three numbers you need

1. Distance. How many kilometres you travel in a month. If you do not know, multiply your usual daily distance by the number of days you ride or drive.
2. Mileage. How many kilometres your vehicle covers on one litre. The most honest figure is one you measure yourself (see the last section).
3. Price per litre. The notified price of the fuel you use.

The formula

Litres used = distance divided by mileage.
Monthly cost = litres used multiplied by the price per litre.

A useful shortcut is the cost per kilometre, which is simply the price divided by the mileage. At Rs 400 per litre, a vehicle that does 40 km per litre costs Rs 10 per kilometre.

Example 1: a motorcycle

A rider travels 30 km a day for 26 days, so 780 km a month. The motorcycle gives 40 km per litre.

• Litres used: 780 / 40 = 19.5 litres
• Monthly cost: 19.5 x Rs 400 = Rs 7,800
• Cost per kilometre: Rs 10

Example 2: a small car

A commuter drives 40 km a day for 26 days, so 1,040 km a month. The car gives 12 km per litre in mixed city traffic.

• Litres used: 1,040 / 12 = about 86.7 litres
• Monthly cost: 86.7 x Rs 400 = about Rs 34,700
• Cost per kilometre: about Rs 33

Example 3: a rickshaw

A driver covers 120 km a day for 26 days, so 3,120 km a month. The rickshaw gives 28 km per litre.

• Litres used: 3,120 / 28 = about 111.4 litres
• Monthly cost: 111.4 x Rs 400 = about Rs 44,600
• Cost per kilometre: about Rs 14

For anyone who earns a living from a vehicle, this number matters more than the pump price alone. It tells you how much of each day's income goes straight into the tank.

What a small improvement is worth

Take the motorcycle from Example 1. If a service, correct tyre pressure and smoother riding lift mileage from 40 to 44 km per litre, the same 780 km needs about 17.7 litres instead of 19.5. At Rs 400 per litre that is about Rs 7,090 instead of Rs 7,800, a saving of roughly Rs 710 every month, without travelling any less. Our guide to getting more kilometres per litre from a motorcycle explains how.

How to measure your real mileage

Brochure figures are measured in ideal conditions. Your own number will be lower in heavy traffic, with a passenger, or with the air conditioning on. To measure it:

1. Fill the tank completely and note the odometer reading.
2. Drive as you normally would, then fill the tank completely again at the same pump if possible.
3. Note the litres added and the kilometres driven since the last fill.
4. Divide the kilometres by the litres. That is your real kilometres per litre.

Repeat this over a few fills and average the results. A sudden drop is an early warning that the vehicle needs attention.

Let the calculator do it

Our trip and fill-up calculators run this maths for you using the current price. Enter the distance and your mileage and you will see the litres, the cost and the cost per kilometre straight away.

Prices change often, so recalculate when a new notification is announced. To understand why they move, read our guide to fuel prices in Pakistan.