Fuel prices Romania vs Bulgaria 2026
Direct comparison of fuel prices between Romania and Bulgaria. The Romanian column is today's national average, 2026-10-02. The Bulgarian column is the median across 578 stations with a live price (Agroproekt, Aliko, Castel, Eko, Himoil, Kruiz, Lukoil, Petrol, Rompetrol), measured between 2026-09-29 and 2026-10-01 and converted at 1 EUR = 5.2777 RON (BNR, 2026-10-01). Bulgaria has lower excise duties on diesel and petrol than Romania.
2026 price comparison table
| Fuel | Romania (RON/L) | Bulgaria (EUR/L) | Bulgaria (RON/L) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard diesel | 10.95 | 1.92 | 10.13 | −0.82 RON/L |
| Standard petrol | 10.02 | 1.68 | 8.87 | −1.15 RON/L |
Romanian source: national average from 1709 stations monitored by PretCarburant.ro. Bulgarian source: the median across 578 Bulgarian stations with a live price, across the Agroproekt, Aliko, Castel, Eko, Himoil, Kruiz, Lukoil, Petrol, Rompetrol networks — measured, not estimated. Prices used date from 2026-09-29 to 2026-10-01.
Why prices differ
The main driver: excise duty. In 2026, harmonized diesel excise in Bulgaria is approximately 0.330 EUR/L, and petrol 0.363 EUR/L. In Romania, excise is 3.06 RON/L on petrol and 2.10 RON/L on diesel (temporarily cut by 25% for 1–15 October 2026), i.e. 0.580 and 0.399 EUR/L at the BNR rate. The standard VAT rate is 21% in Romania (since 1 August 2025) and 20% in Bulgaria.
From 1 April to 30 June 2026, Romania's OUG 19/2026 capped the commercial markup; the cap expired on 30 June and was not extended. What happened during the cap →
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, ~7.7 EUR (~40 RON) for one week
Worked example: 0.82 RON/L × 60 L tank = 49 RON saved. This does NOT cover the bridge toll (~63 RON both ways) — 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 2026-10-02. Bulgarian prices update less frequently than Romanian ones and are shown only while they are newer than 72 hours; past that threshold the column stays empty instead of showing a stale figure. For BG official data: eufueltrack.com/bg.
