Bulgaria remains firmly among the countries in the European Union with the most affordable prices of mass fuels, despite the global turmoil. Statistics as of the end of March 2026 assign our country second place in the cheapest diesel and gasoline, with only Malta offering lower prices for end users, according to data cited by BGNES.
Although consumers in our country feel the burden of inflation and the rise in the cost of living, the figures at the European level position the Bulgarian market far from the price shocks that hit Western Europe.
The main reason why our country holds the "silver medal" for cheap fuels in the Community is related to fiscal policy. A significant part of the final price of gas stations in Europe is formed by taxes. As of mid-March 2026, taxes make up an average of 52.1% of the price of gasoline and 44.6% of that of diesel in the EU.
However, in our country, the tax share on gasoline is the lowest in all of Europe - only 43.9%. For comparison, in Slovenia this indicator reaches 54.8%, which automatically shoots the final amounts up.
The average price of diesel in Bulgaria at the end of March is 1.62 euros per liter. Slovenia and Hungary report absolutely the same levels. The leader in cheap fuels - Malta, maintains a price of 1.21 euros per liter of diesel. The average for the European Union is 2.08 euros.
At the other end of the ranking, drivers pay dearly. The Netherlands breaks records with 2.46 euros per liter of diesel. Immediately after it are Denmark (2.36 euros), Germany (2.29 euros), Finland (2.27 euros) and Belgium (2.23 euros). Austria, France, Ireland, Sweden and Lithuania also remain above the Community average.
The situation is identical with the mass-produced Euro-super 95 gasoline. In Bulgaria, it is traded on average for 1.44 euros - only 10 euro cents more expensive than the leader Malta (1.34 euros). The average price for the EU is 1.87 euros, and the Netherlands is again at the top with 2.33 euros per liter.
Geopolitical instability continues to be the main driver of price changes. Since the outbreak of the new conflict in the Middle East in late February to early April 2026, oil markets have reacted sharply.
As a result, gasoline prices in the European Union jumped by about 14%, and diesel saw a drastic increase of 30%. In the Balkans, Greece remains among the most affected by expensive fuels - there gasoline costs 2.05 euros, which places our southern neighbor in fifth place in terms of cost in the entire European Union. In Romania, the price is 1.82 euros, which is slightly below the European average.
Source: www.dunavmost.com