How much it costs to drive from Joburg to Durban at R30 per litre
It costs at least R2,085.50 to drive from Johannesburg to Durban and back again this October due to the high price of fuel.
Petrol and diesel prices surged past R30 per litre this month as a result of the ongoing war in the Middle East, which has had a devastating effect on global oil prices.
At the start of 2026, Brent Crude was trading at roughly $60 per barrel, but prices skyrocketed to over $100 per barrel after the United States launched strikes against Iran in late February.
South Africa is also more vulnerable to international price shocks due to the collapse of its domestic refinery capacity, with multiple refineries shutting down in recent years due to financial pressures, accidents, and natural disasters.
The end result is that travel is much more expensive for consumers than it was earlier this year, with trips to popular destinations now racking up thousands of rands in fuel bills.
Driving to the coast
Starting in Sandton, the trip to Durban will cover approximately 570km and take around six hours, assuming you follow the N3.
Following a massive R3.33 per litre petrol price hike this October, motorists are now paying R30.25 per litre for petrol 95 at inland rates.
With this in mind, this is how much you can expect to pay for petrol to travel from Joburg to Durban and back again, depending on your car’s fuel efficiency:
| Fuel economy | Fuel needed | One-way trip | Return trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0l/100km | 23 litres | R695.75 | R1,391.50 |
| 5.0l/100km | 29 litres | R877.25 | R1,754.50 |
| 6.0l/100km | 34 litres | R1,028.50 | R2,057.00 |
| 7.0l/100km | 40 litres | R1,210.00 | R2,420.00 |
| 8.0l/100km | 46 litres | R1,391.50 | R2,783.00 |
| 9.0l/100km | 51 litres | R1,542.75 | R3,085.50 |
| 10.0l/100km | 57 litres | R1,724.25 | R3,448.50 |
| 11.0l/100km | 63 litres | R1,905.75 | R3,811.50 |
| 12.0l/100km | 68 litres | R2,057.00 | R4,114.00 |
| 13.0l/100km | 74 litres | R2,238.50 | R4,477.00 |
The other travel cost we need to consider is toll fees, as there are five toll gates on the N3 between Joburg and Durban: De Hoek, Wilge, Tugela, Mooi, and Mariannhill.
The fees for each of these plazas are as follows:
- De Hoek – R67
- Wilge – R94
- Tugela – R100
- Mooi – R70
- Mariannhill – R16.50
All said, motorists travelling to the coast are looking at a toll bill of R347.50.
This means it will cost a minimum of R1,043.25 to travel from Johannesburg to Durban this month, or R2,085.50 both ways, though this assumes you have a particularly fuel-efficient car.
On the other extreme, motorists with less economical vehicles who make the trip can expect to spend up to R2,586 for the first leg of the journey, or R5,172 by the time they return to Gauteng.
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