Sydney drivers have been warned to brace themselves with petrol prices to soar in coming weeks.
The city's petrol prices are expected to peak during the next cycle, with average highs of 153 cents a litre.
According to the myNRMA App, Sydney prices were as high as 164.9 cents a litre in Girraween on Monday, but the NRMA found unleaded for as low as 111.9 at Yagoona.
The last time Sydney motorists experienced prices in the 1.50s was February 18, 2020, nine days before Australia declared the coronavirus a pandemic.
READ MORE: Faulty petrol pumps ripping off Australians to the tune of $12 million
© 9NewsSydney fuel prices are set to surge to pre-COVID levels during the next cost cycle.
Increasing economic confidence driven by the start of the vaccine rollout globally and easing of restrictions have contributed to a rising demand for fuel.
"We saw throughout 2020 that oil companies needed no excuse when it came to exposing Australians to higher petrol prices than what we should have been paying, and now that global demand for fuel is rising faster than supply we are concerned that things will now worsen," NRMA Spokesperson Peter Khoury said.
READ MORE: Sydney's petrol prices rising three times faster than they are falling
© 9NewsThe cheapest locations for fuel in the previous cycle were Gunnedah, Orange, West Wyalong, Musellbrook and Goulburn.
"That's not to say prices should be as high as some retailers are pushing them - there's a price discrepancy of 53 cents across western Sydney alone - and this discrepancy is almost unique to Australia.
"If you're filling up the car with petrol it's more important than ever to check prices on the MyNRMA app before you get stuck paying more than you have to."
Today's average fuel price is 136.5 cents per litre with an almost 60 cents difference between the highest and lowest petrol costs in Sydney.
In the last month, the cheapest locations for average fuel prices were Gunnedah (122.1 cents per litre), Orange, West Wyalong, Musellbrook and Goulburn while the top five most expensive locations were Tweed Heads (163.9 cents a litre), Wollonong, Newcastle, Grafton and Broken Hill.
During the next cost cycle, the NRMA is predicting a high point of 152 cents per litre for E10, 169 cents per litre for Premium 95 and 174 cents per litre for Premium 98.