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What’s the Average Gas Bill for a Two-Person Household?
What’s the Average Gas Bill for a Two-Person Household?
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Julia PaszkaCompare Electricity & Gas Plans
Save time and effort by comparing a range of energy plans with iSelect
Long story short
Gas bills vary by state, season, and household size
From summer lows to winter spikes, benchmarks can help show you what’s ‘normal’ for average homes, so you can see if your bills stack up.
Homes in certain states can see big winter spikes in their bills
Gas bills often surge in colder months, with gas heating working overtime. Knowing how much of a spike is common can help you plan.
Usage habits and appliances drive your costs
Older heaters, inefficient hot water systems, and seasonal demand can quietly crank up bills, but making smart tweaks can keep them down.
What is natural gas?
Natural gas is the third most common energy source in Australia. It’s an odourless and colourless gas made up of mainly methane. It’s lighter than air and found deep underground in reservoirs of decomposed organic matter.
Despite the friendly-sounding name, natural gas is still a fossil fuel. But compared to other fossil fuel–burning power like coal and oil, natural gas only creates half the emissions, making it a lower-impact choice than other traditional fuels.
What’s the average gas bill in Australia?
Gas costs can vary from one home to another, depending on how much you use and how many people in your household rely on it. Here are a few average gas usage rates in major cities so you can see how your bills stack up.
Melbourne
| Household size | Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring |
| 1 | $30.08 | $74.82 | $174.08 | $89.34 |
| 2 | $47.36 | $123.89 | $288.88 | $150.96 |
| 3 | $50.77 | $123.89 | $288.88 | $150.96 |
| 4 | $56.84 | $140.08 | $320.02 | $170.88 |
| 5+ | $73.00 | $173.65 | $404.17 | $211.25 |
Sources: AER – Electricity and Gas consumption benchmarks for residential customers 2020; AER – Gas market prices.
Adelaide
| Household size | Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring |
| 1 | $14.34 | $26.60 | $50.77 | $28.80 |
| 2 | $23.06 | $42.27 | $76.85 | $45.02 |
| 3 | $33.88 | $66.01 | $113.23 | $71.70 |
| 4 | $39.35 | $66.01 | $113.23 | $71.70 |
| 5+ | $42.73 | $70.65 | $113.23 | $71.70 |
Sources: AER – Electricity and Gas consumption benchmarks for residential customers 2020; AER – Gas market prices.
Sydney
| Household size | Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring |
| 1 | $17.09 | $27.64 | $51.42 | $29.25 |
| 2 | $28.29 | $49.74 | $89.12 | $48.90 |
| 3 | $36.22 | $59.11 | $100.19 | $59.20 |
| 4 | $45.11 | $71.31 | $116.94 | $74.68 |
| 5+ | $52.49 | $85.77 | $140.95 | $87.98 |
Sources: AER – Electricity and Gas consumption benchmarks for residential customers 2020; AER – Gas market prices.
Brisbane
| Household size | Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring |
| 1 | $7.66 | $12.01 | $16.81 | $10.56 |
| 2 | $14.06 | $18.55 | $27.60 | $19.88 |
| 3 | $17.33 | $22.47 | $35.11 | $22.92 |
| 4 | $22.93 | $32.04 | $42.97 | $33.73 |
| 5+ | $29.08 | $37.01 | $60.57 | $39.78 |
Sources: AER – Electricity and Gas consumption benchmarks for residential customers 2020; AER – Gas market prices.
How can benchmarks help me compare and get a better plan?
Gas prices aren’t regulated by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) like electricity prices are, which means bills can feel like a guessing game. Benchmarks can show you a rough idea of what’s ‘normal’, so you can quickly see whether your costs line up with other Australian households or whether something’s quietly cranking them higher. They can be especially helpful if you’ve just moved states, you’ve just downgraded to a two-person household, or your bills tend to spike during the winter months. If your bills are coming in above the line, it could pinpoint an inefficient heater, an old hot water system, or an energy provider plan that’s not pulling its weight for your benefit.
When it comes time to compare, benchmarks make it easier to see where your home’s energy usage sits on the scale and whether there could be a better match out there for your home. While these benchmarks won’t pick a plan for you, they can help you ask smarter questions to help keep your usage in check. Because when you know what a ‘normal’ bill looks like, it’s way easier to know when it’s time to shop around.
What factors influence my household’s gas consumption?
The efficiency of gas appliances
Older gas appliances tend to use more gas, which can quietly rack up your gas bills. Regular servicing makes sure they’re running safely and efficiently at the capacity they should be.
Hot water systems
Heating water accounts for up to around 1/3 of your home’s energy use, so the type of hot water heater you have and its temperature settings play a big role in your gas bills. Storage hot water systems constantly heat and store water so it’s ready when you need it, but their design means higher heat loss and more energy. Instantaneous water heaters, while costing more to install, only heat water when it’s needed, which means lower running costs and a more energy-efficient design.
Seasonal demand
For gas-powered homes, heating is the main element that drives up seasonal spikes. In places like Melbourne, gas consumption bills peak between June and August, thanks to shorter daylight hours, longer nights, and heaters working overtime.
Helpful tip
If your gas bill seems unusually high, even for the middle of winter, your meter could be the culprit. Take a manual reading yourself and compare it to your bill. If something doesn’t add up, then contact your provider; catching errors early can stop you from overpaying for incorrect or estimated readings.
Julia Paszka
General Manager – Utilities & Credit Cards
Tips to help reduce gas consumption
Heat your home smartly
If your gas bill reaches sky-high levels in winter, focus on heating the main living rooms in your home rather than every single one. Keep your heater set at between 18 and 20 degrees; each degree over this could use about 15% more energy, which means another high winter bill. Make sure to close any doors and stop draughts to keep warmth where it belongs.
Compare regularly
Gas often gets overlooked when it comes to switching, but that could mean missing out on potential savings of between $400 to $1,000 each year (depending on where you live, your gas plan, and your usage habits). Check in to see what gas plans are available to make sure you’re getting one that provides your home with good value.
Check how efficient your appliances are
Make sure your gas appliances are serviced to make sure they’re still energy-efficient appliances that are working to their best output. If it’s time to upgrade, look for a six-star energy-rated heater or an instantaneous hot water system, so you’re not paying for energy that disappears into thin air.
Check your best offer
Since 2023, all gas retailers have to include a ‘best offer’ section on their bills. This is a short section that lets you know whether you’re on your retailer’s most competitive plan. It’s a quick and simple way to check in between your regular comparisons to make sure your gas plan is still working for you.
Light up your home with an energy plan from iSelect
Gas might power your home, but it shouldn’t drain your budget. If you haven’t checked in to see how your energy plan stacks up against the competition, it could be a good time to start looking, even if you’re happy with your current situation. At iSelect, we can help you compare from a range of plans and providers so you can find one that suits your home and your wallet. Head online to use our simple comparison tool or call our energy comparison experts at 1800 664 532 to find a plan that’ll power your home.
Get started on comparing energy plans today!
Save time and effort by comparing a range of energy plans with iSelect
iSelect does not compare all energy providers or plans in the market. The availability of plans may change from time to time, depending on who iSelect’s providers are and what plans they make available to iSelect. Not all plans made available from iSelect providers may be compared by iSelect either due to commercial arrangements, area or availability, so not all plans or providers compared by iSelect will be available to all customers. Some plans and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Energy plans are available only for properties located in eligible areas of Victoria, New South Wales, South East Queensland, South Australia and ACT. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers.