People ask what the average gas bill is because they want to know if theirs is normal. It is a fair question, but the average hides enormous variation. A household in cold, gas-heavy Melbourne with ducted heating can pay several times what a Brisbane household pays using gas only for cooking and hot water. Climate, the number of gas appliances, household size and how you heat all move the number dramatically.
Rather than chase a single national figure, it is more useful to understand what drives your bill and how it compares to homes like yours. Two things determine it: how much gas you use, measured in megajoules, and the rates you pay per megajoule plus the daily supply charge.
What shapes your bill
Climate and state
Colder southern states use far more gas for heating. Victoria and the ACT tend to have the highest gas usage; warmer states use much less.
Number of gas appliances
A home with gas ducted heating, gas hot water and a gas cooktop uses vastly more than one with gas cooking only.
Season
Winter quarters dominate the annual bill in heating climates. A cold three-month period can carry most of the year's usage.
Household size
More people means more hot water and more heating demand, which are the two largest gas loads.
Reading your own bill
To judge whether you are paying too much, separate usage from price. Look at your total megajoules for the year, adding up four quarters or twelve months. That is your usage, and it is largely a function of your home and appliances, not your retailer. Then look at your rates and supply charge, which are entirely down to your plan and are the part you can change without renovating.
If your usage looks high for your household, the fix is efficiency: heating, hot water and draught-proofing, all covered in our ways to save on your gas bill. If your usage is reasonable but the bill still stings, the fix is your plan. Most of the time it is a bit of both, and it is worth separating them so you know which lever to pull.
Are you overpaying on rates?
Usage aside, the clearest sign of overpaying is being on an old plan. If your discount period has lapsed or you have not compared in a couple of years, you are likely on standing or near-standing rates that are well above the sharpest offers. The fix is straightforward, and our guide on how to switch gas provider shows how painless it is.
EnergySorted costs current plans against your actual annual megajoules, including how stepped rates apply across your usage, and shows what you would pay on each. Because it is independent and takes no commissions, the plan at the top is the one that is genuinely cheapest for you, not the one paying to be there. That turns "is my bill normal?" into a concrete answer: here is what the same gas would cost on the best plan available to you today.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal gas bill in Australia?
There is no single normal. It ranges widely by state, season and household. A cooking-and-hot-water-only home in a warm state pays a fraction of what a fully gas-heated home in a cold state pays. Compare against homes with similar appliances and climate rather than a national average.
Why is my winter gas bill so much higher than summer?
Gas heating is the largest seasonal load. In heating climates a single cold quarter can account for most of the year's usage, so winter bills dwarf summer ones even though your rates have not changed.
Which states have the highest gas bills?
Colder southern regions, particularly Victoria and the ACT, tend to have the highest gas usage because of heating demand. Warmer states use much less gas overall, so bills there are typically lower.
How do I know if I am paying too much for gas?
Separate your usage (megajoules per year) from your rates. High usage points to efficiency fixes; high rates point to your plan. If you have not compared plans in a couple of years, you are probably on rates well above the best available offers.
Does a bigger household always mean a bigger gas bill?
Usually, because hot water and heating (the two biggest gas loads) scale with the number of people. But an efficient large home can use less than an inefficient small one, so appliances and insulation matter as much as headcount.
What uses the most gas in a typical home?
Heating first, then hot water, with cooking a distant third. In a heating climate, ducted or space heating dominates the winter bill. Trimming the big loads is where the savings are.
My gas bill is high. What should I do first?
Split the problem: work out whether it is high usage or high rates. Efficiency fixes tackle usage; switching plans tackles rates. Start with ways to save on your gas bill, then cost the market on your real usage.
Would switching to electric appliances lower my bill?
It can, particularly if gas is only one or two appliances and you are paying a supply charge all year. A heat pump for heating or hot water often runs cheaper than gas. See our gas vs electricity running cost comparison.
Are there concessions that reduce my gas bill?
Yes. Most states and the ACT offer energy concessions for eligible pensioners and concession-card holders, applied by your retailer once registered. Check the rebates and concessions guide to see if you qualify.
How many megajoules does a typical home use in a year?
It varies enormously by climate and appliances, but a range of roughly 10,000 to 30,000 MJ a year is common, with fully gas-heated homes in cold states at the top end and cooking-only homes in warm states at the bottom.
Is gas getting more expensive in Australia?
Wholesale gas prices have been volatile, which flows through to retail rates over time. That makes comparing your plan more valuable, not less: the gap between a stale offer and the sharpest available one tends to widen when the market moves. Confirm current rates when you compare.
General information only, current at the time of writing. Not financial advice. Rebate schemes and rules
change; always confirm details with your retailer or state government energy site.
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