Fuel prices in Germany continue to show significant regional variations, sometimes exceeding 20 cents per liter, according to the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels, part of the Federal Cartel Office in Bonn. While average prices across the country have remained relatively stable in the third quarter of 2025, localized price spikes highlight ongoing disparities that affect drivers differently depending on location.
Across roughly 15,000 fuel stations in Germany, average prices in Q3 2025 were reported at €1.72 per liter for E5 gasoline, €1.67 for E10, and €1.59 for diesel. A slight increase was observed at the end of September, but overall, prices have held steady compared to previous months. State-to-state differences were relatively modest, generally within plus or minus five cents. Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Berlin recorded the lowest average fuel prices, while Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg were comparatively more expensive.
On a more granular level, however, differences can exceed 20 cents per liter. Some higher-priced postal areas border much cheaper ones, particularly in southern East Germany near Dresden, parts of Saxony-Anhalt, and northwestern Brandenburg. Cross-border regions close to Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg also showed elevated prices. Additionally, parts of the North and Baltic Sea coasts, including islands like Sylt and Rügen, experienced higher fuel costs.
Within urban areas, daily price fluctuations were more pronounced, with average prices peaking around 7:00 a.m. and reaching their lowest around 7:00 p.m. The Market Transparency Unit attributes this to stronger competition in densely populated regions, where fuel stations frequently adjust prices in response to neighboring stations. On average, each station changes prices about 22 times daily.
High prices in border regions are partly due to consumers often refueling abroad, prompting local stations to offset potential losses with higher domestic prices. Other contributing factors include transport distances from the nearest refinery.
The Market Transparency Unit recommends that drivers use fuel price apps to find the cheapest prices in their area. Gas stations are required to report any price change within five minutes, and app data is updated frequently, sometimes on a minute-by-minute basis.
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