It’s summer. You are taking this long-awaited road trip, perhaps for the first time since the pandemic. Your first stop, a gas station. Cue the shock sticker.
In the United States and many other countries, prices have skyrocketed pandemic restrictions have eased and demand for fuel has increased. Labor shortages, refinery closures and the war in Ukraine have limited supplies, pushing prices even higher.
Even though prices fell before the July 4 weekend, Americans are still paying between $4 and $7 a gallon. Filling a half tank of a Toyota Camry – one of the most popular sedans in the world – costs around $40. If you drive a 2010 Camry — a model year we use based on the average age of cars on US roads — you’ll go about 32 miles per gallon.
And that means $40 will get you about 250 miles on the highway.
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But how far would $40 get you in the rest of the world? As US costs at the pump hit record highs in June, they were lower than other countries with the largest economies, including France, Canada, China and Britain, but higher than those of other major oil-producing countries such as Russia and Saudi Arabia.
How far $40 worth of gas will get you
in countries with
greater savings
The distances shown are for a 2010 Toyota Camry,
that goes 32 miles per gallon.
How far $40 worth of gas will get you in the
countries with the largest economies
The distances shown are for a 2010 Toyota Camry,
that goes 32 miles per gallon.
How far $40 gas will get you in countries
with the greatest savings
The distances listed are for a 2010 Toyota Camry, which goes 32 miles per gallon.
How far $40 worth of gas will get you in the countries with the biggest savings
The distances listed are for a 2010 Toyota Camry, which goes 32 miles per gallon.
How much gas your money buys depends on many variables, including taxes, government subsidies, refining costs, distribution, and marketing.
“Oil is a globally traded commodity, and there are no easy substitutes,” said Jeff Barron, an oil industry economist at the US Energy Information Administration. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “very disruptive” to the global market, he added.
Reporters from The Washington Post spoke with people around the world to see how high fuel costs are affecting their lives and what governments are doing — if anything — to cushion the impact.
France
Gas cost: $8.11/gallon
How much did gasoline cost last summer: $7.01/gallon
Average annual income: $33,724
Government action: Since April 1, France has been offering motorists a fuel discount and reimbursing service stations for the loss of profit. Estimates suggest it’s costing the government more than $2 billion.
South Africa
Fuel cost today: $5.61/gallon
How much did gasoline cost last summer: $4.55/gallon
Average annual income: $4,862
Government action: While prices in South Africa increased in June, the government temporarily reduced gasoline taxes. Many drivers say they feel they need more help.
Colombia
Gas cost: $2.17/gallon
How much did gasoline cost last summer: $2.31/gallon
Average annual income: $5,246
Government action: Gas prices in Colombia are among the lowest in Latin America due to the government subsidy. But with the fuel are now funding $3 billion in debt, the government has warned it will soon start raising prices.
South Korea
Fuel cost today: $6.33/gallon
How much did gasoline cost last summer: $5.29/gallon
Average annual income: $25,752
Government action: Prices are the highest in a decade and continue to climb, although the South Korean government has reduced its fuel tax twice.
United Arab Emirates
Fuel cost today: $4.15/gallon
How much did gasoline cost last summer: $2.34/gallon
Average annual income: $39,306
Government action: The government took no action to mitigate the price spike. In recent months the cost of gas has doubled – the first big increase since the UAE deregulated fuel in 2015.
Germany
Gas cost: $7.46/gallon
How much did gasoline cost last summer: $6.81/gallon
Average annual income: $39,093
Government action: The government cut gas taxes, driving down prices that were among the highest in Europe. Even with these measures, people are still paying over $7 a gallon. To help consumers, the cost of public transport has also been reduced. For around $10 people can travel anywhere in the country by regional train or bus.
India
Fuel cost today: $4.99/gallon
How much did gasoline cost last summer: $5.08/gallon
Average annual income: $1,822
Government action: Soaring prices this spring pushed the government to slash gas taxes and negotiating the import of discounted oil from Russia, which stabilized costs. India has been criticized for backing Russian President Vladimir Putin in the moves, but officials say they must put their own country first.
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