FUEL - WITH THE MONEY WE GAVE LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR WE DO UP TO 200 km LESS PER WEEK - GREATER BURDEN FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH TWO CARS - Filenews 28/10 by Charalambos Zakos
Two conclusions can be drawn regarding the increases in fuel prices in Cyprus. That on the one hand Cypriots pay hundreds of euros more annually this year for the same distance they travelled last year and on the other hand that drivers seem to be trapped, having essentially little room to react to fuel increases, since restricting the use of their cars and their movements is not possible.
In particular, the first equation concerns the comparison of fuel prices in October 2026 with the corresponding month last year and the average distance it can travel with the same amount this year compared to this year, while the second question, i.e. whether travel has decreased, can be answered through the data of the Statistical Service regarding the sales of motor fuels from gas stations.
Hundreds of euros
As can be seen from relevant calculations, Cypriot drivers are faced not only with increases, but with serious and unbearable costs in terms of their travels, with some of them being asked to pay even €1,500 extra for each car every year. This translates into about €150 more per month, compared to the cost of travel at last year's prices. In fact, the problem becomes even greater for the household budget, since in cases where two or even three vehicles are used, the total burden can be doubled or even tripled, depending on the transportation needs of each family.
A simple example
Based on the calculation that a driver spends €70 per week on his travels and based on the current prices of motor fuels compared to the corresponding month last year, we can estimate the distance he could cover for his needs, and therefore the additional amount he will be asked to pay this year compared to last year, if he wants to travel the same miles.
In particular, according to the available data, unleaded 95 and diesel were sold in October 2025 for 1,340 and 1,428 euros per liter respectively. In October 2026, the increase in gasoline reaches 29% and in diesel 40.3%, with prices reaching €1,728 and €2,004 per liter, respectively.
If we now assume that a car with a gasoline engine consumes 8 liters per 100 kilometers, then with €70 in 2025 it could cover, hypothetically, 653 kilometers, since it would buy 52.24 liters of fuel.
On the contrary, the same car and at the same expense, i.e. €70 per week in October 2026, could buy 40,51 liters, with the distance it can cover reduced to 506 kilometers. So, essentially, the range it secures this year for the same amount is reduced by 22.5%, or by about 147 kilometers per week.
Now, in diesel, and due to the higher rate of increase in prices, this difference is growing, as in the same scenario, but with an average consumption of 7 liters per 100 kilometers, the driver could get 49.02 liters last year, covering about 700 kilometers.
But in October 2026, for the same amount, the driver can get 34,93 liters and cover about 499 kilometers. Essentially, with the same money he loses about 201 kilometers per week, with the distance he can travel reduced by 28.7%.
Thus, a driver who spends €70 per week on fuel can now travel about 147 kilometers less on gasoline or 201 kilometers less on diesel, compared to October 2025.
Now, in order to maintain the same travel, he needs to increase his weekly expenditure from €70 to about €90 for gasoline or €98 for diesel. Based on these calculations, over a period of four weeks, the surcharge is estimated at €81 for petrol and €113 for diesel.
It should be emphasized that the calculations are based on a fixed consumption of 8 liters per 100 kilometers for a gasoline car and 7 liters for a diesel car, as well as the prices of October of the two years.
Movements have not decreased
The increase in fuel prices has led, understandably, to higher refuelling costs, as citizens now have to pay more money to cover the same distances, at the same time raising questions about whether Cypriots can really reduce their travels. This answer is given by the data of the Statistical Service, which show that, despite the financial burden, fuel consumption from gas stations remained almost at the same levels.
Specifically, according to the latest available data, sales of unleaded gasoline from gas stations for the period January-September 2026 increased by 2.2% compared to the corresponding period of 2025, while a marginal decrease of 0.3% was recorded in diesel. As a result, for many households, the increased cost of fuel may be a burden that is difficult to contain.
