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Cost to drive from Cologne to Düsseldorf

Driving from Cologne to Düsseldorf covers 40 km (25 miles) and takes about 36min without stops. At the latest average price in each country along the way, the fuel for the trip costs about €6 in a typical petrol car — here's the full breakdown for petrol, diesel and electric.

CologneDüsseldorf
40 km (25 miles)36min driving

Where the petrol money goes

The 3 L a typical petrol car burns on this drive, priced where it is burned.

Germany40 km · 2.8 L at €2.18/L€6.10
Fuel for the whole drive€6

Tolls and vignettes: no motorway vignette or toll for cars on this route.

Petrol, diesel or electric — priced for your car

Pick the kind of car you drive and whether you are coming back. Prices are the average across every country on the route.

Price this trip
1 person
Petrol€6.10
7 L/100km · 2.8 L
Diesel€5.44
6 L/100km · 2.4 L
Electriccheapest€2.52
18 kWh/100km · 7.2 kWh

Driving Cologne → Düsseldorf in a family car, electric costs €3.58 less than petrol — 59% of the bill.

Fuel needed
2.8 L
petrol
Tank fills
0.1
55 L tank
Per km
€0.153
fuel only
Per person
€6.10
1 traveller
Driving time
36m
one way
CO₂
6 kg
tailpipe

Cologne vs Düsseldorf: which end is cheaper?

Both ends of this route draw on the same regional averages — the comparison below shows what that means at the pump.

€2.18/LPetrol€2.18/L
Same price at both ends
€2.27/LDiesel€2.27/L
Same price at both ends
€0.35/kWhElectricity€0.35/kWh
Same price at both ends
No advantage either way. The 2.8 L this trip needs costs the same at both ends — fill up wherever is convenient.
Official averages, week of 2026-10-19. Electricity is a typical domestic rate; public rapid charging costs two to three times more.

What if fuel prices move?

Booking this drive for later in the year? Pump prices swing with crude, season and tax changes — here is the same 40 km in a typical petrol car at four price levels.

If prices fall 10%€5€-1
At today's prices€6—
If prices rise 10%€7+€1
If prices rise 25%€8+€2
Exact cost for your car

Your car's mpg, tank and fuel level — plus tolls, route options and the cheapest stops.

Plan this trip →

How this cost is calculated

We take the real driving route between Cologne and Düsseldorf (40 km) from OpenStreetMap routing, work out how far it runs in each country, and price the fuel a typical car burns in each one at that place's latest published average. The petrol figure assumes 7 L/100km · 34 MPG; diesel and EV use 6 L/100km · 39 MPG and 18 kWh/100km. Your real cost depends on your car, traffic, driving style and the stations you pick — use the trip planner for your exact numbers, or check prices on the Germany fuel prices page.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to drive from Cologne to Düsseldorf?

The drive is 40 km (25 miles) and takes about 36min without stops. Fuel costs roughly €6.10 in an average petrol car, €5.44 in a diesel, and €2.52 in an electric car, using the latest average price in each country along the way.

How far is it from Cologne to Düsseldorf in miles and km?

About 25 miles or 40 kilometres by road — roughly 36min of driving.

Is it cheaper to fill up in Cologne or Düsseldorf?

Both ends use the same regional prices on this route.

How many times will I need to fill up between Cologne and Düsseldorf?

None on the way. The drive needs about 2.8 L of petrol and a typical 55 L tank covers roughly 786 km, so one full tank at the start does the whole trip.

Is it cheaper to drive or fly from Cologne to Düsseldorf?

On fuel alone the drive costs about €6 one way, and that cost splits across everyone in the car — with €2 each for four people, which is where driving usually wins. Against that, the drive takes 36min without stops, and a fair comparison also counts tolls, parking, wear and any overnight stay.

What will this trip cost if fuel prices change?

At today's prices the petrol is about €6. A 10% rise takes it to €7, a 25% rise to €8, and a 10% fall to €5. Prices here refresh as each source publishes, so this page always reflects the latest figures.

How do I get the exact cost for my car?

Set the vehicle type on this page for an instant estimate, or open the FuelWide trip planner with your car's fuel economy, tank size and how full it is — it prices the drive state by state and suggests where refuelling is cheaper (state averages in the US, individual forecourt prices where a country publishes them).

Driving distance via OSRM / OpenStreetMap. Fuel prices are the latest published averages for each country on the route (sources named on each price page); efficiency and electricity rates are typical estimates, and tolls are not included unless listed above. Your figure will vary — use the planner for an exact result.