Oil in Albania costs 10.5% more than the European average

2026-06-19 07:09:20, Ekonomi CNA

Albanian consumers paid 10.5% more for fuel than the European Union average in 2025. The data was made public by Eurostat, which measures the price level index according to purchasing power parity (PPP).

This indicator compares how much the same basket of goods and services costs in different countries, eliminating the effect of exchange rates and differences in income levels.

For Albania, the index for the group "Fuels and lubricants for private transport vehicles" was 110.5%, which means that to buy the same amount of fuel that an EU citizen would need 100 euros, an Albanian vehicle user would need 110.5 euros.

In Eurostat terminology, this category includes: petrol, diesel, gas for vehicles (LPG/CNG), lubricating oils and similar products for the maintenance of private vehicles.

Although Albania is among the poorest countries in Europe, in terms of per capita income (43% of the EU average) and individual consumption according to purchasing power (48% of the EU), leaving behind only Bosnia and Herzegovina, those who own cars are forced to buy fuel at more expensive prices than many more developed countries.

Albania ranks fifth, according to Eurostat, for expensive fuel prices according to purchasing power, after Iceland (128.4%), Denmark (114.7), the Netherlands (114) and Switzerland (113.7).

Oil is much more expensive than in the region. Behind us is Serbia (96.1), Montenegro (85.6). Bosnia and Herzegovina is at the bottom of the list (76.3), along with North Macedonia (72), with the latter, where a good part of Albanians are supplied, being the second cheapest for fuel in Europe, after Turkey (67.5). Data for Kosovo is missing.

In relative comparison with the EU, Albania has become increasingly expensive. Prices caught up with the EU average in 2022-2023, rising to 106.6 in 2024, only to further widen the gap in 2025.

In the first half of 2026, the difference between prices, especially with the region, deepened even more, as other countries took measures to reduce the fiscal burden on fuels, while the Albanian government implemented a reduction in excise duty for only 5 days.

The main reason for the price difference is related to the high level of taxes paid for a liter of fuel, which in Albania constitute about half of the price, while in other countries in the region, around 30-35%./Monitor.al