Fuel Prices in Lithuania: What You Pay at the Pump and Why
Drivers in Lithuania currently pay around $1.883 per liter for gasoline (petrol), which works out to roughly $7.13 per US gallon. In local terms that's about €1.65 per liter at the pump. Diesel sits slightly higher at $1.982 per liter, a reversal of the old pattern where diesel was the cheaper option — a shift that now shapes choices for many Lithuanian motorists and the country's large transit-freight sector.
Compared with the global picture, Lithuania is on the pricier side. The current world average is about $1.484 per liter, and Lithuania ranks 138th of 170 countries surveyed — meaning fuel here costs more than in roughly 80% of the world. That position is typical for a European Union member state, where excise duties and VAT do most of the heavy lifting on the final price.
Why Lithuanian Fuel Costs What It Does
Lithuania imports virtually all of its crude and refined fuel — it is not an oil producer in any meaningful sense, so the underlying commodity price is set on global and Baltic regional markets, denominated largely in US dollars. That makes the euro-to-dollar exchange rate a quiet but real driver: when the euro weakens against the dollar, imported fuel becomes more expensive in euros even if the dollar oil price hasn't moved.
On top of the wholesale cost come two big government levers. First is the fuel excise duty, a fixed amount per liter that Lithuania must keep above EU-wide minimums and has steadily raised over the past decade. Second is VAT at 21%, applied on top of the price including excise — so tax is charged on tax. Together these two account for a substantial share of every euro spent at the pump. Lithuania offers no broad consumer fuel subsidy; unlike oil-exporting nations, it has no domestic crude revenue to cushion prices.
The Ten-Year Trend
The history tells a clear story of volatility. Between July 2016 and June 2026, Lithuania's average pump price was about $1.492 per liter — close to today's world average but well below the current local level. The cheapest point came on 4 May 2020 at just $1.036 per liter, during the COVID-19 demand collapse when global oil briefly went into freefall. The peak hit $2.358 per liter on 27 June 2022, at the height of the post-pandemic recovery and the energy shock that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which severed cheap eastern energy supply for the Baltics.
Today's $1.883 sits between those extremes — down from the 2022 spike but still meaningfully above the decade average, reflecting both higher taxes and a structurally tighter European energy market.
How Lithuania Compares to Its Neighbors
Lithuania's prices look much like those of its fellow EU members. You can see how it stacks up against fellow Baltic state Estonia, against Central European peers such as Hungary and Austria, or against lower-tax Romania. For the full global ranking and live comparisons, browse our world fuel prices tool.
FAQ
How much is gas per gallon in Lithuania?
Gasoline costs about $7.13 per US gallon in Lithuania, based on a pump price of roughly $1.883 per liter (around €1.65 per liter). Note that fuel in Lithuania is sold by the liter, not the gallon.
Why is diesel more expensive than petrol in Lithuania?
Diesel currently runs about $1.982 per liter versus $1.883 for petrol. Higher diesel excise rates, strong freight and transit demand across the Baltics, and refining margins have pushed diesel above gasoline — reversing the traditional gap.
Are fuel prices in Lithuania high or low compared to the world?
They're relatively high. At about $1.883 per liter against a world average near $1.484, Lithuania ranks 138th of 170 countries. EU excise duties and 21% VAT are the main reasons prices sit well above the global average.