Nathan B. Says:
I’d like to own a car if I lived in Portugal. But I’ve heard gas is expensive in Europe. Is that true?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Nathan,
It’s true, you’ll generally pay more for gas throughout the EU than you would in the U.S.
In Portugal, the cost of a liter of gasoline hovers around €1.86. When this is converted to a per-gallon cost in dollars, it becomes about $7.50.
Diesel is about 10% less expensive, so many consumers opt for cars that run on diesel, or gasoleo, as it’s called in Portuguese.
They tend to be more economical in most respects anyway.
However, times are changing in Europe. There are a series of regulations to protect the environment from exhaust fumes, and diesel vehicles are currently bearing the brunt of the law.
Some major cities on the continent have already passed laws prohibiting diesel vehicles of a certain age from entering the city.
The newer diesel cars and trucks use an additive called AdBlue to make them cleaner forms of transport. This has a cost per liter as well, so even though it is comparatively inexpensive, it should be calculated into your running costs if you decide to purchase a car.
Learn all about owning a car in Portugal in our detailed guidebook, Escape to Portugal.
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