Local motorists are bearing the brunt of the US-Iran war, with rising fuel prices hitting Australians six times harder than the rest of the world.
Surging fuel prices since late February have cost drivers an extra $550 per person, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) research shows.
This is six times more than the global average of $85 per person.
In total, the research reveals Australians have paid an additional $10.5bn on petrol and diesel since the war started.
The research found Australia’s high fuel consumption per person and heavy reliance on private cars had left households particularly exposed to international oil price shocks despite the country’s distance from the conflict.
CREA co-founder Lauri Myllyvirta said other countries were able to reduce their oil needs to be better protected from the surge in prices.
“Australians are paying an exceptionally high price for this war because they use so much oil,” Mr Myllyvirta said.
“Even countries with significant domestic fossil fuel resources cannot escape global oil markets. The best protection against volatile fuel prices isn’t producing more oil, it’s needing less of it.”
Secure Energy Project chief executive Leila Aly said the war was particularly harsh on Australian motorists.
“This war has deepened a cost-of-living crisis around the world, and Australian families are paying a particularly heavy price,” she said.
“For people who depend on their cars to get to work, school or the shops, rising petrol prices are another hit to household budgets.”
Oil prices rallied over the last week, although cooled on Monday, with Brent Crude settling at $US115 ($A164) a barrel.
As of Monday, the average Sydney unleaded price was 236 cents per litre, while diesel came in at 280.4 cents per litre, according to NRMA fuel watch.
Every $1 a litre increase in oil prices adds about 1 cent a litre at the pump to how much motorists pay.
Australia is not alone in paying more for fuel.
CREA data shows the US has taken the biggest hit since the war began.
Only Americans ($671) and Canadians ($601) have paid more than Australians in that time.
Globally, the war has added $US468bn to fuel bills, with the US accounting for around a third of the total.