Overview
On a long drive from Ukraine into the European Union, fuel and road tolls are usually the two largest costs of the trip. In Week 34, the cheapest diesel in our comparison is in 🇸🇪 Sweden at €1.68 per litre, while the cheapest option on most Ukraine–EU routes is 🇭🇺 Hungary at €1.704 per litre. The single most effective habit is simple: fill the tank in the cheaper country immediately before you cross into a more expensive one. Our fuel prices data is updated weekly, so the ranking below can change; always check the live page before you set off.
Where fuel is cheapest right now
The table below lists the twelve cheapest countries in our comparison, ranked by diesel. Figures were updated on 10 August 2026.
| # | Country | Diesel €/l | Petrol 95 €/l | LPG €/l |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1.680 | 1.308 | — |
| 2 | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 1.704 | 1.553 | 0.88 |
| 3 | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 1.743 | 1.533 | — |
| 4 | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 1.770 | 1.720 | 0.79 |
| 5 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 1.798 | 1.619 | — |
| 6 | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 1.813 | 1.703 | 0.91 |
| 7 | 🇪🇸 Spain | 1.822 | 1.703 | 1.06 |
| 8 | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 1.878 | 1.619 | — |
| 9 | 🇵🇱 Poland | 1.896 | 1.706 | 0.714 |
| 10 | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 1.903 | 1.685 | 0.74 |
| 11 | 🇦🇹 Austria | 1.965 | 1.721 | — |
| 12 | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 1.975 | 1.896 | — |
Note: prices are approximate and converted to EUR for comparison only. The live fuel prices page shows current native-currency numbers per country and city. Local figures behind this week's table include diesel at 673.6 HUF in Hungary, 8.07 PLN in Poland and 10.5 RON in Romania. If you want to compare those against your own budget in hryvnia or zloty, our currency calculator converts UAH, PLN and EUR at live rates.
Smart fuelling strategy
The strongest saving comes from timing your refuel to the border. If your route runs through Hungary or Slovakia, fill the tank to maximum before you leave for a country higher up the price list. The same logic applies in Poland, where diesel at €1.896 is well below the levels recorded in France (€2.169) or the Netherlands (€2.323). Germany does not appear in the cheap-fuel table above, so a full tank in Poland before crossing is a sound plan.
If your route does not pass through one of the cheapest countries, top off the tank to maximum before you leave Ukraine. That single decision often covers the first several hundred kilometres at a lower price.
Two more habits reduce the total cost. First, gas stations located directly on motorways charge roughly 15–20% more than stations a short distance away. A five-minute detour into a nearby town is usually worth it. Second, in Western Europe, supermarket-attached stations are almost always the cheapest in their area — a useful rule when you search for gas stations nearby on a motorway approach. Border towns are another classic stop: many drivers specifically ask what diesel costs in Wasserbillig, on the Luxembourg–Germany border, because Luxembourg sits at €1.798 per litre this week. Drivers using autogas should note the LPG spread as well: €0.714 in Poland and €0.74 in Croatia, against €1.06 in Spain.
Tolls and vignettes across Europe
Vignette countries — buy a digital pass before you cross
A vignette is a pre-paid digital pass that gives you the right to use a country's motorway network for a fixed period. You buy it online before crossing the border, and roadside cameras scan your license plate to confirm it is valid. There is no sticker to attach and nothing to collect at the border crossing. Buy only from the official site listed below. Toll and vignette data was updated on 16 August 2026.
| Country | Cheapest transit pass | Buy online |
|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇴 Romania | 3.50 EUR — 1 day | roviniete.ro |
| 🇲🇩 Moldova | 4.00 EUR — 7 days (no 1-day option) | evinieta.gov.md |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 4.09 EUR — 1 day | bgtoll.bg |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 8.10 EUR — 1 day | eznamka.sk |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 9.20 EUR — 1 day | edalnice.cz |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 9.60 EUR — 1 day | shop.asfinag.at |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | 14.00 EUR — 1 day | nemzetiutdij.hu |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 16.00 EUR — 7 days (no 1-day option) | evinjeta.dars.si |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 42.50 CHF — annual only (no 1-day option) | e-vignette.ch |
Three countries in this week's data have no 1-day pass: 🇲🇩 Moldova and 🇸🇮 Slovenia start at 7 days, and 🇨🇭 Switzerland sells an annual vignette only. Plan those costs into your budget even for a single day of transit. If you also drive a vehicle above 3.5 tonnes, German heavy-vehicle tolls (LKW-Maut) are charged per kilometre — our LKW Maut calculation tool works out that amount separately from the car rules described here.
Pay-per-kilometre (toll booths)
In ticket-system countries there is no pass to pre-buy. You take a ticket at the entry barrier and pay at the exit booth, by cash or card. 🇮🇹 Italy operates one of the most expensive networks in Europe. 🇫🇷 France uses a ticket and barrier system on most autoroutes and is also expensive, so budget accordingly. 🇭🇷 Croatia charges on entry and exit as well, with higher tariffs in the summer season. 🇷🇸 Serbia uses the same ticket-on-entry model, paid on exit in cash or card. 🇵🇹 Portugal mixes classic toll booths with electronic-only motorways (Via Verde) — get a transponder if your route uses the electronic-only roads. 🇵🇱 Poland is a special case: state motorways are free for passenger cars, while the private A1, A2 and A4 concessions charge at booths or through the Autopay app.
Toll-free for cars
Motorways are free for passenger cars in 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇧🇪 Belgium and 🇳🇱 Netherlands. Rare tunnel and bridge exceptions still apply, but you need no vignette and no ticket for ordinary motorway driving in these three countries.
Plan your trip
Build your refuelling stops around the cheapest country on your actual route, not around the overall ranking. A route through Hungary, Slovakia or Poland gives you a natural low-price refuel point before the more expensive sections further on.
Buy every vignette you need online, from the official site, a day before departure. Passes are linked to your license plate and activate on the date you choose, which helps you avoid border queues and roadside purchase points. Keep the confirmation email available offline.
Finally, put the numbers together before you leave. Our route planner maps the drive with fuel and toll stops, and the trip cost calculator combines fuel and toll expenses into one total, so you know the realistic budget for the whole journey.
Useful tools
- Live Fuel Prices Across Europe — country & city prices, updated regularly
- European Vignettes & Tolls — e-vignette prices and official links
- Route Planner — plan your drive with fuel and toll stops
- Car Drivers Portal — all driving tools in one place
- Trip Cost Calculator — estimate fuel, toll and total trip expenses
- Currency Calculator — UAH, PLN, EUR and more live rates
Source: nakordoni.eu — Fuel Prices & Tolls | Updated: 19.08.2026