That is according to the latest research by Confused.com (Q3,2022). The study uncovers the European countries where drivers spend the highest percentage of their yearly income on fuel. This was calculated by analysing official data (International Council of Clean Transportation, European Commission, EU Joint Research Center, Auto Traveller, Eurostat) on each country’s average yearly income in comparison to their average fuel consumption and fuel prices per litre.
Confused.com can reveal that drivers in Greece spend an average of 13.13% of their annual income on fuel each year. This is the greatest percentage of all European countries analysed. The price per litre of fuel in Greece (€2.40) is the third highest in Europe. This is only cheaper than Finland (€2.53 per litre) and the Netherlands (€2.48 per litre). However, when looking only at their annual fuel expenditure, Greek drivers’ bills are the fourth lowest in Europe (€1,153.26).
Following behind Greece is Portugal, with drivers predicted to spend almost a tenth (9.79%) of their income on fuel per year. In comparison, it’s 4.38 percentage points more than what neighbouring Spanish drivers spend (5.41% of income on fuel). Portuguese motorists pay €2.15 per litre for refuelling – a total annual fuel expenditure of €1,057.07 on average. This is 8.3% less than Greece in first place.
The United Kingdom ranks third, with drivers expected to spend 8.21% of their salary each year to fill their tanks. The annual fuel bill for British drivers is the third highest in Europe, averaging €1761.96. A litre of fuel costs approximately €2.16 in the UK (the same as Sweden), although cheaper than in Greece (€2.15) and the Netherlands (€2.48).
| Country | Annual fuel cost | % of income |
1 | Greece | €1,153.26 | 13.13% |
2 | Portugal | €1,057.07 | 9.79% |
3 | UK | €1,761.96 | 8.21% |
4 | Sweden | €1,898.87 | 7.68% |
5 | Denmark | €2,139.19 | 6.97% |
6 | Finland | €1,738.95 | 6.82% |
7 | Italy | €1,204.34 | 6.67% |
8 | France | €1,359.80 | 6.26% |
9 | Germany | €1,564.10 | 6.02% |
10 | Spain | €868.46 | 5.41% |
11 | Ireland | €1,436.90 | 5.39% |
12 | Netherlands | €1,376.04 | 5.33% |
13 | Austria | €1,180.04 | 4.44% |
14 | Belgium | €1,131.43 | 4.41% |
15 | Luxembourg | €1,423.82 | 3.76% |
Drivers in Luxembourg spend the least income on fuel
With only 3.76% of annual income spent on fuel, Luxembourg has the best fuel economy of all countries analysed. Boasting the cheapest fuel price per litre in Europe at €1.90, the total annual fuel bill for drivers the Alpine country is €1423.82.
Confused.com car insurance expert, Alex Kindred, comments:
“The amount spent on refuelling your car is becoming a larger portion of motorists’ month salary. To cut your motoring costs it’s worth knowing what you could do to reduce fuel consumption. Here are some of our top fuel-saving tips to improve your fuel economy and keep costs down.
- Maintain your vehicle. Well-maintained vehicles are generally able to use fuel more efficiently. So regular service checks and getting issues fixed quickly are vital.
- Inflate your tires. If your tire pressure is low, your will end up paying more for every kilometre you travel.
- Refill your tank with how much you need. Only refuelling the amount required avoids a full tank and any unwanted weight, which can also increase fuel consumption.
- Drive smoothly. Your driving style can have a huge impact on your fuel consumption. Gentle acceleration and using the highest gear can reduce fuel usage.
- Avoid idling. Keeping the engine running while not driving can consume roughly half a gallon to a gallon of fuel every hour.”
