Fuel prices in Puerto Rico

Fuel Prices in Puerto Rico: What You Pay at the Pump

Drivers in Puerto Rico currently pay about $1.191 per liter of gasoline, which works out to roughly $4.51 per US gallon. Diesel runs a little cheaper at around $1.133 per liter. Because Puerto Rico is a US territory, you will usually see prices posted locally as $1.19 a liter in US dollars — there is no separate island currency to convert, which removes one layer of guesswork that drivers in many other markets face.

Compared with the global picture, Puerto Rico is on the cheaper side. The world average sits near $1.484 per liter, and Puerto Rico ranks 47th out of 170 countries and territories tracked — meaning gasoline here is more affordable than in roughly three-quarters of the world.

What Actually Drives Puerto Rico's Pump Prices

Three forces shape what you pay on the island. First is the simple fact that Puerto Rico imports essentially all of its refined fuel. It is not an oil producer or exporter, so the price you see at the station tracks the cost of bringing gasoline and diesel in by tanker, plus the margins of importers and retailers. When global crude and refined-product prices move, island prices follow with a short lag.

Second is taxation. Puerto Rico levies an excise tax on gasoline along with related fees that fund road maintenance and transportation programs. These taxes are real, but they are modest relative to the heavy fuel duties seen across much of Europe — which is a big reason the island lands well below the world average rather than above it.

Third is the dollar itself. Using the US dollar as legal tender shields Puerto Rico from the currency swings that punish importers elsewhere. In places like Bangladesh or Madagascar, a weakening local currency can push pump prices up even when crude is flat. Puerto Rico is insulated from that, so its prices mostly reflect the underlying commodity and local taxes.

The Price Trend: A Decade of Swings

Looking back over the period from July 2016 to June 2026, the average price in Puerto Rico has been about $0.89 per liter — noticeably lower than today's $1.191. The cheapest point on record came on March 30, 2020, at just $0.52 per liter, as the early pandemic crushed global oil demand. The peak hit $1.45 per liter on June 6, 2022, during the worldwide energy spike that followed the post-pandemic recovery and supply disruptions.

Current prices sit between that decade average and the 2022 high, suggesting the island has settled into an elevated but not record-breaking range. Because Puerto Rico is a price-taker on imported fuel, future moves will depend far more on global crude markets than on anything decided locally.

How Puerto Rico Compares

Puerto Rico's $1.19-a-liter gasoline is cheaper than many import-dependent economies but pricier than some of the most heavily subsidized markets. Drivers curious about the spread can compare it with Paraguay and Guatemala, two Latin American markets that also import most of their fuel. For the full ranking and prices everywhere, see our world fuel prices overview.

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