Fuel prices Romania vs Bulgaria 2026
Direct comparison of fuel prices between Romania and Bulgaria, updated 2026-05-11. Exchange rate used: 1 BGN ≈ 2.55 RON. Bulgaria has lower excise duties on diesel and petrol than Romania, but the gap is smaller than in 2022-2023 due to OUG 19/2026 which caps the commercial markup in Romania.
2026 price comparison table
| Fuel | Romania (RON/L) | Bulgaria (BGN/L) | Bulgaria (RON/L) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard diesel | 9.72 | 2.62 | 6.68 | −3.04 RON/L |
| Standard petrol | 9.17 | 2.59 | 6.6 | −2.57 RON/L |
Romanian source: national average from ~1,500 stations monitored by PretCarburant.ro. Bulgarian source: indicative average from stations along E70/E83 corridors (Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv).
Why prices differ
The main driver: excise duty. In 2026, harmonized diesel excise in Bulgaria is approximately 0.330 EUR/L (BGN ~0.645/L), and petrol 0.363 EUR/L. In Romania, diesel excise exceeds 0.400 EUR/L after inflation indexation, and petrol exceeds 0.440 EUR/L. VAT is similar (20% RO vs 20% BG).
From 1 April – 30 June 2026, Romania's OUG 19/2026 caps the commercial markup, which has narrowed the gap to Bulgaria by 0.15-0.25 RON/L especially on diesel. See live OUG 19/2026 tracker →
Giurgiu-Ruse crossing: when it pays off
For travelers from southern Romania heading to Greece (Halkidiki, Thasos, Olympus), the Giurgiu-Ruse-Veliko Tarnovo-Stara Zagora-Sandanski route is the main path. The savings calculation depends strictly on:
- Tank capacity — savings scale with RON × difference/L
- Bridge toll — 6 EUR/vehicle ≤3.5t at Giurgiu-Ruse, both directions, so 12 EUR (~60 RON) per round trip
- Bulgarian vignette — mandatory for BG motorways, ~15 BGN (~38 RON) for one week
Worked example: 0.20 RON/L × 60 L tank = 12 RON saved. This does NOT cover the bridge toll — so refueling in Bulgaria only makes sense if you're already crossing. For trips to the Romanian coast (Mamaia, Vama Veche), it does not pay off to detour to Bulgaria just for fuel.
Recommended strategy for Greece transit: leave with full tank from Romania, refuel in Bulgaria ONLY on the way back (full tank on return into RO avoids fines for excess fuel at the border — limit is 10L in a jerry can per OUG 195/2002).
Decision summary
- For Greece transit: refuel both in RO and BG strategically. Don't leave with empty tank.
- For BG-only travel: cross with partial tank (~⅓), refuel in BG.
- For short trips from southern RO (Giurgiu, Călărași, Constanța): not worth crossing just for fuel.
- For carriers/fleets: BG refueling can be optimal for international routes that already transit BG, via inter-company card systems (EuroShell, DKV).
See also
Article published 7 May 2026, updated 2026-05-11. BGN-RON exchange rate and BG prices are indicative and updated less frequently than Romanian prices. For BG official data: eufueltrack.com/bg.
