BulgariavsRomania
Romania16.5% less than Romania — that is €12.20 on a 50-litre tank.
| Per litre | Bulgaria | Romania | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol 95 | €1.48 | €1.72 | €0.24 · €12.20/tank |
| Diesel | €1.58 | €1.89 | €0.31 · €15.50/tank |
| LPG | €0.62 | €0.87 | €0.26 · €12.75/tank |
Where the €0.24 gap comes from
Petrol is the same product on both sides of this border, refined from the same crude. Stripping duty and VAT out of both pump prices shows how much of the difference is fuel — and how much is politics.
The fuel itself is more expensive before tax in Bulgaria. It is cheaper at the pump anyway, purely because Bulgaria taxes it less than Romania does.
Is the crossing worth it?
What you save by filling up in Bulgaria, against what the detour costs you at €1.48/L and 7 L/100 km.
| Tank filled | You save | Worth a detour of |
|---|---|---|
| 40 L | €9.76 | up to 94 km round trip |
| 50 L | €12.20 | up to 118 km round trip |
| 60 L | €14.64 | up to 142 km round trip |
| 70 L | €17.08 | up to 165 km round trip |
Trends, tax breakdown, city pages and station maps for Bulgaria.
Trends, tax breakdown, city pages and station maps for Romania.
Other borders from here
Frequently asked questions
Is fuel cheaper in Bulgaria or Romania?
Bulgaria is cheaper for petrol 95 — €1.48 per litre against €1.72 in Romania, a difference of €0.24 per litre (16.5%). On a 50-litre tank that is €12.20 saved.
How much do I save filling up in Bulgaria?
€12.20 on a 50-litre tank, €17.08 on a 70-litre one. Weigh that against the detour: if crossing costs you 20 extra kilometres, roughly €2.07 of that saving goes straight back into the tank.
Why is fuel cheaper in Bulgaria than Romania?
Tax, entirely. The fuel itself is actually more expensive before duty in Bulgaria — the pump price is lower purely because excise duty and VAT are lower there.
How current are these prices?
Both sides are 2026-07-20 national averages including all duties and taxes — European Commission — Weekly Oil Bulletin for Bulgaria. Individual stations vary around the average, and forecourts right at a border crossing routinely price above it precisely because they can.