Fuel Cost per km and per Mile Calculator
How much does it cost to drive one kilometre — or one mile? The answer depends on two things: your vehicle's fuel consumption and the pump price in your country. This guide gives you the formula, worked examples for petrol and diesel vehicles, a country-by-country comparison of driving costs, and a comparison with electric vehicles.
The formula — fuel cost per km and per mile
The fuel cost per km calculation uses two inputs: the pump price per litre and your vehicle's fuel consumption in litres per 100 km (l/100km).
Cost per km formula:
Cost per km = (price per litre × litres per 100 km) ÷ 100
Cost per mile formula (US/UK):
Cost per mile = price per gallon ÷ mpg
Convert between the two:
Cost per mile = cost per km × 1.60934
For the current fuel price in your country, use the FuelTheGuide Explorer — it covers 168 countries, updated weekly, with prices in EUR, USD, GBP, or your local currency.
Worked examples — fuel cost per km
The examples below use a medium-sized petrol car consuming 7 l/100km as the reference vehicle. Swap in your own consumption figure and local pump price to get your specific number.
| Scenario | Price (EUR/L) | Consumption | Cost per km | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway — petrol car | EUR 2.10 | 7 l/100km | EUR 0.147 | EUR 0.237 |
| Germany — petrol car | EUR 1.75 | 7 l/100km | EUR 0.123 | EUR 0.197 |
| UK — petrol car | GBP 1.45 | 7 l/100km | GBP 0.102 | GBP 0.164 |
| USA — petrol car | USD 3.40/gal | 33 mpg | USD 0.065 | USD 0.103 |
| Saudi Arabia — petrol | SAR 2.18/L | 7 l/100km | SAR 0.153 (~USD 0.041) | SAR 0.246 |
The cost of driving one kilometre in Norway is approximately 3.5× the cost of the same kilometre in the USA, and over 8× the cost in Saudi Arabia — all from the same crude oil, refined through the same process, with the difference being entirely taxation. See global pump prices in the explorer and road trip fuel budget planning in our road trip fuel cost calculator guide.
Fuel cost per km by country — the global gap
For a standard 7 l/100km petrol car, the cost per km in selected countries (using approximate 2026 pump prices converted to EUR):
| Country | Petrol price (EUR/L approx.) | Cost per km (EUR) | Cost per 100 km (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | ~2.10 | ~0.147 | ~14.70 |
| Netherlands | ~1.90 | ~0.133 | ~13.30 |
| Germany | ~1.75 | ~0.123 | ~12.25 |
| Australia | ~1.55 | ~0.109 | ~10.85 |
| USA | ~0.78 | ~0.055 | ~5.46 |
| India | ~1.05 | ~0.074 | ~7.35 |
| Saudi Arabia | ~0.60 | ~0.042 | ~4.20 |
| Kuwait | ~0.26 | ~0.018 | ~1.82 |
Note that the cost difference is not a reflection of how hard people work to earn it — this is an absolute cost comparison. For a purchasing-power-adjusted comparison, note that average wages in Norway (~EUR 5,000+/month) are much higher than in Kuwait (~EUR 2,500) — so while absolute fuel costs are higher in Norway, the share of income spent on fuel may be broadly comparable. See global price comparison for the full picture.
Diesel vs petrol — which is cheaper per km?
Diesel engines are typically 15–25 % more fuel-efficient than equivalent petrol engines due to higher compression ratios and better thermodynamic efficiency. The per-km cost comparison depends on both the price difference and the efficiency difference:
| Fuel type | Pump price (Germany, approx.) | Consumption (example) | Cost per km |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol 95 RON | EUR 1.75/L | 7.0 l/100km | EUR 0.123 |
| Diesel | EUR 1.65/L | 5.5 l/100km | EUR 0.091 |
| LPG (Autogas) | EUR 0.80/L | 9.5 l/100km (lower energy density) | EUR 0.076 |
In this example, diesel costs 26 % less per km than petrol despite a similar pump price — a common result for diesel-engined vehicles. LPG is cheapest per km where available but has lower energy density (higher consumption per km) and limited refuelling infrastructure. See LPG glossary entry for the energy content comparison and petrol vs diesel guide for the full running cost analysis.
EV cost per km — how does electricity compare to petrol?
An electric vehicle (EV) replaces fuel consumption with electricity consumption. The equivalent calculation uses price per kWh and consumption in kWh per 100 km:
EV cost per km formula:
Cost per km = (electricity price per kWh × kWh per 100 km) ÷ 100
Example — Germany (home charging):
Electricity: EUR 0.32/kWh; EV consumption: 16 kWh/100km
Cost per km = (0.32 × 16) ÷ 100 = EUR 0.051/km
At EUR 0.051/km for a German EV versus EUR 0.123/km for a petrol car, the EV is approximately 58 % cheaper per km on fuel/energy cost alone — before accounting for higher purchase price, lower maintenance costs, and public charging at higher per-kWh rates. The full comparison including capital costs is in our EV running costs guide.
Note: electricity prices vary enormously across countries (EUR 0.08/kWh in Norway with hydropower; EUR 0.30–0.40/kWh in Germany and the UK), changing the EV economics substantially by market.
Tips to reduce your fuel cost per km
Beyond choosing the cheapest fuel type, driving style and vehicle maintenance have a significant impact on your real-world fuel cost per km:
- Tyre pressure: Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance by 1–2 %, raising fuel consumption by a comparable amount. Check and inflate to the manufacturer-recommended pressure monthly.
- Smooth acceleration and braking: Aggressive acceleration and late braking can increase fuel consumption by 20–30 % versus smooth driving. Anticipating traffic flow and using engine braking reduces fuel use significantly.
- Speed: Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed. Fuel consumption at 120 km/h is typically 20–25 % higher than at 90 km/h for the same vehicle.
- Air conditioning: Running A/C can increase fuel consumption by 5–15 %, depending on ambient temperature, vehicle size, and A/C set point.
- Fuel grade: Use the manufacturer-recommended fuel grade. Higher-octane petrol does not improve efficiency in vehicles not designed for it — it just costs more per litre.
For planning a specific journey's fuel cost, use our road trip fuel cost calculator guide. For comparing fuel prices across countries, use the FuelTheGuide Explorer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate fuel cost per km?
Cost per km = (price per litre × litres per 100 km) ÷ 100. Example: EUR 1.70/L × 7 l/100km ÷ 100 = EUR 0.119 per km. Use the explorer for current prices.
How do I calculate fuel cost per mile?
US/UK mpg: cost per mile = price per gallon ÷ mpg. Example: USD 3.40 ÷ 34 mpg = USD 0.10 per mile. Metric to imperial: multiply cost per km by 1.60934.
Is diesel cheaper per km than petrol?
Usually yes. Diesel engines are 15–25 % more efficient per km than petrol. In Germany, a diesel car typically costs ~EUR 0.09/km vs ~EUR 0.12/km for petrol — even when diesel pump price is close to petrol. The advantage varies by vehicle model and driving pattern.
What is the fuel cost per km in different countries?
For a 7 l/100km car: Norway EUR 0.147/km; Germany EUR 0.123/km; USA ~EUR 0.055/km; Saudi Arabia ~EUR 0.042/km; Kuwait ~EUR 0.018/km. The gap is almost entirely taxation — crude and refining costs are broadly similar globally.