Last updated: 7 August 2026
Data-status note: Updated from the European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin workbook dated 3 August 2026. The Commission’s public landing page was still displaying the 16 July edition when checked on 7 August, but the newer official workbook supplied for this update contains a complete EU-27 table for 3 August. The figures below use the workbook values, not station-level estimates.
Fuel prices are among Europe’s most visible costs, displayed in large numbers at every roadside station. Yet the difference between countries is not only what drivers pay per litre. The same purchase can absorb very different shares of income.
This analysis combines two separate views:
the latest official weekly prices available as of 7 August 2026, with a reference date of 3 August 2026;
2025 annual averages calculated from all 52 weekly observations, compared with Eurostat’s 2024 net-earnings benchmark.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, investment or transport advice. Weekly and annual fuel figures come from the European Commission’s Weekly Oil Bulletin and include duties and taxes. They are national averages, not guaranteed prices at individual stations.
Income figures use Eurostat’s 2024 annual net earnings for a single person without children earning 100% of the average wage. The assumed purchase of 60 litres per month is a standardised analytical benchmark, not an estimate of typical household consumption. Income-adjusted results indicate comparative pressure under common assumptions; they do not measure individual affordability.
Latest EU Fuel Prices by Country
The workbook used for this update is dated 3 August 2026. National authorities submit data to the Commission, which publishes weekly consumer prices through its Weekly Oil Bulletin. The programme is managed by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy.
EU-27 Fuel Prices, Week of 3 August 2026
| Country | Petrol 95 (EUR/L) | Petrol change | Diesel (EUR/L) | Diesel change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 1.838 | +0.076 | 2.050 | +0.210 |
| Belgium | 1.883 | +0.072 | 2.179 | +0.217 |
| Bulgaria | 1.533 | +0.073 | 1.743 | +0.245 |
| Croatia | 1.691 | +0.092 | 1.889 | +0.227 |
| Cyprus | 1.561 | +0.095 | 1.698 | +0.129 |
| Czechia | 1.744 | +0.103 | 1.844 | +0.328 |
| Denmark | 2.459 | +0.094 | 2.264 | +0.215 |
| Estonia | 1.812 | +0.091 | 1.877 | +0.191 |
| Finland | 2.196 | +0.053 | 2.337 | +0.187 |
| France | 2.066 | +0.102 | 2.216 | +0.268 |
| Germany | 2.184 | +0.083 | 2.208 | +0.193 |
| Greece | 2.020 | +0.041 | 2.064 | +0.210 |
| Hungary | 1.647 | +0.011 | 1.824 | +0.139 |
| Ireland | 1.817 | +0.105 | 1.846 | +0.157 |
| Italy | 1.992 | +0.128 | 2.090 | +0.133 |
| Latvia | 1.874 | +0.106 | 1.940 | +0.235 |
| Lithuania | 1.800 | +0.103 | 2.035 | +0.232 |
| Luxembourg | 1.708 | +0.010 | 1.853 | +0.155 |
| Malta | 1.340 | +0.000 | 1.210 | +0.000 |
| Netherlands | 2.370 | +0.073 | 2.414 | +0.265 |
| Poland | 1.756 | +0.161 | 1.879 | +0.267 |
| Portugal | 1.982 | +0.069 | 2.049 | +0.201 |
| Romania | 1.803 | +0.151 | 2.028 | +0.222 |
| Slovakia | 1.761 | +0.067 | 1.809 | +0.206 |
| Slovenia | 1.649 | +0.089 | 1.865 | +0.231 |
| Spain | 1.687 | +0.145 | 1.794 | +0.245 |
| Sweden | 1.453 | +0.071 | 1.825 | +0.254 |
| EU-27 weighted average | 1.952 | +0.101 | 2.043 | +0.220 |
Prices are national averages for standard Euro-super 95 and automotive diesel, inclusive of duties and taxes. The two change columns show the difference in EUR per litre between 13 July and 3 August 2026; a positive number means the fuel became more expensive. Regional prices, premium fuels and individual retailers may differ.
The largest displayed petrol increase was in Poland, at 0.161 EUR/L, followed by Romania at 0.151 EUR/L and Spain at 0.145 EUR/L. For diesel, Czechia recorded the largest increase, at 0.328 EUR/L. France, Poland and the Netherlands also rose by more than 0.26 EUR/L. Malta was unchanged for both fuels at the precision shown.
What Changed Since the July Snapshot?
The draft incorrectly stated that both EU fuel averages had continued to fall. The official weighted EU-27 averages were:
| Reference week | Petrol 95 | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 13 July 2026 | 1.851 EUR/L | 1.823 EUR/L |
| 3 August 2026 | 1.952 EUR/L | 2.043 EUR/L |
| Change | +0.101 EUR/L | +0.220 EUR/L |
Petrol therefore rose by about 10.1 cents per litre, while diesel increased by roughly 22.0 cents. Unlike the mixed movement seen in the previous comparison, both EU weighted averages rose sharply, with the diesel increase more than twice the petrol increase.
The latest petrol range extended from EUR 1.340/L in Malta to EUR 2.459/L in Denmark. Diesel ranged from EUR 1.210/L in Malta to EUR 2.414/L in the Netherlands. Petrol cost more than diesel only in Denmark and Malta; diesel was more expensive in the other 25 member states.
Weekly values reflect short-term market conditions. For structural comparison, the annual averages below are more useful.
Fuel Prices in Europe: Quick Overview
Using a simple, unweighted average of the 27 national annual averages for 2025:
average petrol price: approximately €1.562/L;
average diesel price: approximately €1.519/L;
60 litres of petrol: approximately €93.73;
60 litres of diesel: approximately €91.14.
These are simple country averages, not consumption-weighted EU aggregates. The distinction matters: a weighted EU figure gives larger markets more influence.
For broader household-budget context, see Cost of Living in Europe 2026 and the Cost of Living Index Europe.
EU-27 Fuel Prices and Income Pressure in 2025
The annual fuel prices below are the simple arithmetic mean of the 52 weekly national retail observations in the 2025 calendar year. All prices include duties and taxes.
The income share compares the cost of 60 litres with monthly net earnings derived from Eurostat’s annual net earnings dataset, using a single person without children earning 100% of the average wage.
| Country | Petrol EUR/L | 60 L petrol | Income share | Diesel EUR/L | 60 L diesel | Income share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 1.519 | EUR 91.14 | 2.63% | 1.536 | EUR 92.16 | 2.65% |
| Belgium | 1.553 | EUR 93.18 | 3.05% | 1.659 | EUR 99.54 | 3.25% |
| Bulgaria | 1.238 | EUR 74.28 | 4.12% | 1.238 | EUR 74.28 | 4.12% |
| Croatia | 1.489 | EUR 89.34 | 7.77% | 1.476 | EUR 88.56 | 7.70% |
| Cyprus | 1.366 | EUR 81.96 | 4.06% | 1.455 | EUR 87.30 | 4.33% |
| Czechia | 1.407 | EUR 84.42 | 5.85% | 1.374 | EUR 82.44 | 5.72% |
| Denmark | 1.964 | EUR 117.84 | 3.22% | 1.759 | EUR 105.54 | 2.88% |
| Estonia | 1.559 | EUR 93.54 | 5.90% | 1.440 | EUR 86.40 | 5.45% |
| Finland | 1.707 | EUR 102.42 | 3.33% | 1.654 | EUR 99.24 | 3.23% |
| France | 1.726 | EUR 103.56 | 3.84% | 1.619 | EUR 97.14 | 3.61% |
| Germany | 1.737 | EUR 104.22 | 3.16% | 1.605 | EUR 96.30 | 2.92% |
| Greece | 1.761 | EUR 105.66 | 6.78% | 1.550 | EUR 93.00 | 5.96% |
| Hungary | 1.483 | EUR 88.98 | 7.69% | 1.511 | EUR 90.66 | 7.84% |
| Ireland | 1.737 | EUR 104.22 | 2.71% | 1.707 | EUR 102.42 | 2.66% |
| Italy | 1.733 | EUR 103.98 | 5.03% | 1.653 | EUR 99.18 | 4.80% |
| Latvia | 1.555 | EUR 93.30 | 7.70% | 1.522 | EUR 91.32 | 7.53% |
| Lithuania | 1.423 | EUR 85.38 | 6.44% | 1.507 | EUR 90.42 | 6.82% |
| Luxembourg | 1.479 | EUR 88.74 | 2.12% | 1.436 | EUR 86.16 | 2.05% |
| Malta | 1.340 | EUR 80.40 | 4.22% | 1.210 | EUR 72.60 | 3.81% |
| Netherlands | 1.923 | EUR 115.38 | 2.89% | 1.694 | EUR 101.64 | 2.55% |
| Poland | 1.402 | EUR 84.12 | 5.94% | 1.428 | EUR 85.68 | 6.05% |
| Portugal | 1.707 | EUR 102.42 | 7.26% | 1.577 | EUR 94.62 | 6.70% |
| Romania | 1.452 | EUR 87.12 | 8.25% | 1.496 | EUR 89.76 | 8.50% |
| Slovakia | 1.521 | EUR 91.26 | 7.79% | 1.463 | EUR 87.78 | 7.49% |
| Slovenia | 1.469 | EUR 88.14 | 5.92% | 1.510 | EUR 90.60 | 6.09% |
| Spain | 1.495 | EUR 89.70 | 4.38% | 1.425 | EUR 85.50 | 4.18% |
| Sweden | 1.435 | EUR 86.10 | 2.86% | 1.509 | EUR 90.54 | 3.01% |
The fuel-price values in the original table were not the arithmetic averages of the Commission’s 52 weekly observations. The corrected table materially changes several countries, including Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
Income percentages are rounded comparative results. Because the published fuel prices are shown to three decimal places and income shares to two decimal places, readers should not expect to reproduce every percentage from the displayed rounded values alone.
What Nominal Prices Show
In 2025, national annual-average petrol prices ranged from €1.238/L in Bulgaria to €1.964/L in Denmark. Diesel ranged from €1.210/L in Malta to €1.759/L in Denmark.
The petrol spread of €0.726/L equals €43.56 per month under the 60-litre benchmark. The diesel spread of €0.549/L equals €32.94 per month.
Annual averages smooth weekly volatility and temporary interventions. They describe the year’s general price level more reliably than a single weekly observation, but they do not represent the price paid by every driver.
Pump prices include excise duty, VAT, wholesale costs, refining and distribution margins. EU law sets minimum excise levels, while member states determine their national rates above those thresholds. The Commission publishes current national details in its duties and taxes section.
For comparison with another essential household category, see Grocery Prices in Europe 2026.
Income-Adjusted Fuel Cost Pressure
Nominally expensive fuel does not automatically create the highest proportional burden. Under the standardised 60-litre petrol benchmark:
Luxembourg recorded the lowest displayed share, at approximately 2.12%;
Romania recorded the highest, at approximately 8.25%;
Denmark’s highest annual petrol price translated into about 3.22% of the selected income benchmark;
Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and Slovakia all exceeded 7%.
For diesel, the displayed shares ranged from about 2.05% in Luxembourg to 8.50% in Romania.
The result reflects two variables simultaneously: retail prices and earnings. A country with fuel near €1.90/L can show a lower proportional burden than a country near €1.45/L when net earnings differ substantially.
The selected Eurostat earnings case is only a harmonised reference. It does not represent median disposable household income, pension income, a dual-income family or a worker in a particular city. For more context on salary comparisons, see An Average Salary in Europe Doesn’t Mean What You Think.
Why Fuel Prices Differ Across Europe
Taxes
Excise duties and VAT account for a substantial part of the retail price. National tax rates, temporary reductions and policy interventions can cause countries with similar wholesale costs to report different pump prices.
Wholesale and Distribution Costs
Retail prices also reflect crude-oil and product markets, refining margins, storage, transport and retail competition. Port access, refinery capacity and landlocked geography can affect logistics. Exchange-rate changes matter in EU countries outside the euro area because oil products are traded internationally.
Income Differences
The same €100 monthly purchase carries different weight at different earnings levels. This is why nominal and income-adjusted comparisons can produce very different patterns.
Taxes and purchasing power also shape energy bills more broadly; see Electricity and Gas Prices Across the EU-27.
Methodology
Latest Weekly Prices
The weekly table uses the European Commission workbook with a reference date of 3 August 2026. Prices are reported in euros per 1,000 litres and divided by 1,000 to obtain euros per litre. Values in the article are rounded to three decimals, while comparisons use the underlying workbook values.
Annual Prices
For each member state and fuel:
2025 annual average = sum of 52 weekly prices ÷ 52
The country values are simple time averages. The quick-overview EU figures are then simple averages of the 27 country annual averages and are explicitly labelled unweighted.
Monthly Benchmark
Monthly fuel cost = annual average price per litre × 60 litres
The assumption equals 720 litres per year. It standardises the comparison but does not describe actual national consumption.
Income Share
Income-adjusted share = monthly fuel cost ÷ (annual net earnings ÷ 12)
The earnings case is a single person without children earning 100% of the average wage. Eurostat explains the indicator in its net earnings metadata.
Limitations
The framework does not account for:
vehicle efficiency or powertrain;
annual kilometres driven;
urban and rural differences;
commuting distance;
household size or number of earners;
multiple vehicles;
public-transport availability;
differences in vehicle ownership;
prices at a specific station;
fuel cards, loyalty discounts or premium fuels.
Reported retail prices may reflect temporary tax changes, subsidies or other measures active in the reference period. The calculation is a comparative indicator under uniform assumptions, not a measure of actual household transport spending.
For more on the interaction between location and recurring daily costs, see Why Small Everyday Choices Matter More Than Rent and The Real Cost of Convenience in European Cities.
Key Takeaways
The latest official workbook supplied for this update is dated 3 August 2026.
The EU-27 weighted average was approximately EUR 1.952/L for petrol and EUR 2.043/L for diesel.
Between 13 July and 3 August, petrol increased by about 10.1 cents per litre and diesel by about 22.0 cents.
Correct 2025 national averages range from €1.238 to €1.964/L for petrol and €1.210 to €1.759/L for diesel.
A 60-litre petrol purchase ranged from €74.28 to €117.84 using 2025 annual averages.
Nominal prices and income-adjusted pressure are not the same.
The 60-litre assumption is a comparison tool, not a claim about normal household usage.
FAQ
What is the average fuel price in Europe
There is no single “European” fuel price. In 2025, annual average petrol (Euro-super 95) prices across the EU-27 range roughly from the low €1.30s per litre to levels approaching €2.00 per litre, depending on the member state. Diesel prices follow a similar pattern, though slightly narrower in dispersion.
Prices vary due to taxation structures, distribution costs, and market conditions.
Which EU countries have the highest fuel prices?
Nominally, several Western and Northern European countries tend to record higher per-litre retail prices, particularly where excise duties and VAT rates are elevated.
However, higher nominal prices do not necessarily translate into the highest income-adjusted fuel burden. Relative impact depends on national earnings levels.
Where is fuel cheapest in the EU?
Some Central and Eastern European member states typically report lower nominal pump prices. That said, lower prices per litre do not automatically imply lower economic pressure once income levels are taken into account.
Nominal affordability and income-adjusted burden are not the same metric.
How much does 60 litres of fuel cost in Europe?
Under 2025 annual average prices, 60 litres of petrol typically cost between approximately €75 and €120 across the EU-27. Diesel falls within a similar range in most countries.
The exact amount depends on national retail pricing and taxation.
Why do fuel prices vary so much across Europe?
Retail fuel prices incorporate:
Excise duties set at national level
Value-added tax (VAT)
Wholesale and refining margins
Distribution and logistics costs
Currency movements in non-euro countries
EU legislation sets minimum excise thresholds, but member states determine actual tax rates, which contributes to price variation.
How is the income-adjusted fuel burden calculated?
The income-adjusted share is calculated as:
Monthly fuel cost (60 litres) ÷ Monthly net income benchmark
Income data are based on Eurostat 2024 annual net earnings for a single person without children earning 100% of the average wage. Annual earnings are divided by 12 to obtain a monthly benchmark.
The result is expressed as a percentage.
Does a higher percentage mean fuel is unaffordable?
Not necessarily.
The income-adjusted percentage is a comparative indicator under uniform assumptions. It does not account for vehicle efficiency, commuting patterns, number of earners in a household, or public transport alternatives.
It illustrates relative pressure under a harmonised framework, not individual affordability.
Are these official government fuel prices?
The price data are based on the European Commission’s Weekly Oil Bulletin, which compiles national retail fuel prices inclusive of duties and taxes. The analysis uses annual averages of weekly data to reduce short-term volatility.
Why use 60 litres as a benchmark?
The 60-litre benchmark represents a standardised monthly reference level (equivalent to 720 litres annually). It allows consistent cross-country comparison.
It does not represent average national fuel consumption and should not be interpreted as typical household usage.
Conclusion
Fuel prices differ visibly across the EU, but nominal differences alone do not explain their economic impact. In 2025, Denmark had the highest annual-average petrol price, yet the standardised petrol purchase absorbed a smaller share of the selected income benchmark than in several lower-price Central and Eastern European countries.
The latest weekly data also show why dates matter. Between 8 June and 13 July 2026, the EU petrol average rose while diesel edged down. Describing both as falling would misstate the official series.
The most useful interpretation therefore keeps three measures separate: the latest weekly price, the annual structural average and the income-adjusted benchmark. Together they show not only what fuel costs, but how differently the same purchase can weigh on earnings across Europe.
Matias Buće has a formal background in administrative law and more than ten years of experience studying global markets, forex trading, and personal finance. His legal training shapes his approach to investing — with a focus on regulation, structure, and risk management. At Finorum, he writes about a broad range of financial topics, from European ETFs to practical personal finance strategies for everyday investors.
