How much further 100 zł got you last summer
At the start of August 2026, a 100 zł note buys just 13 litres of Pb95 petrol in Poland – almost a quarter less than the 17 litres that the same sum delivered a year earlier. According to averaged nationwide data from e-petrol.pl on 5 August 2026, a litre of Pb95 cost around 7.55 zł, Pb98 stood at 8.35 zł, and diesel reached 8.22 zł. LPG was a relative bargain at 2.99 zł.
In the first week of August 2025, those same fuels were far cheaper: Pb95 averaged 5.84 zł, Pb98 6.59 zł, diesel 5.99 zł, and LPG 2.65 zł. The steepest increase has fallen on diesel, up 2.23 zł or 37%, while petrol rose 1.71 zł (29%) and LPG added just 34 groszy (13%). For a driver, every 100 zł now covers significantly fewer kilometres.
To put the numbers into a real-world context, we modelled the cost of driving 100 km in a Volkswagen Golf – Poland’s most common car, with over 600,000 examples registered. A modern turbocharged TSI petrol engine consuming about 6 litres per 100 km now costs roughly 45.30 zł on Pb95 or 50.10 zł on Pb98. A 2.0 TDI diesel averaging 5 litres per 100 km runs up a bill of about 41.10 zł. An LPG conversion, popular on older Golf models, needs around 9 litres of gas per 100 km, costing just 26.91 zł.
For electric drivers, the picture splits dramatically. A Volkswagen e-Golf uses around 16 kWh per 100 km. Charging at home on the standard G11 tariff (approx. 1.13 zł/kWh) costs about 18.03 zł. But plugging into a public fast charger – where prices average 2.84 zł/kWh – brings the expense up to roughly 45.44 zł, almost matching a petrol car.
Diesel drivers hardest hit; home-charged EVs a bright spot
Diesel owners feel the biggest squeeze
The 37% jump in diesel prices has turned a once-cheap fuel into one of the priciest options per 100 km. Last summer, a Golf TDI would have cost about 29.95 zł to cover 100 km; now it’s 41.10 zł, an extra 11.15 zł every 100 km. For families and sales reps who rely on long-distance diesel cars, that adds up quickly and may prompt a rethink of vehicle choice or driving habits.
LPG retains its crown – but only for older cars
Even after a 13% increase, LPG remains the cheapest fuel, delivering a 100 km trip for under 27 zł. The catch is that the savings apply only to vehicles that have undergone a conversion – typically older petrol models, not modern direct-injection engines. For those who do own a compatible car, the economic advantage over diesel or petrol has actually widened.
EVs: a two-speed cost structure
Poland’s fast-growing electric fleet sees drastically different running costs depending on where drivers charge. Home charging keeps an e-Golf’s 100 km bill below 19 zł, undercutting even LPG. However, reliance on public rapid chargers inflates the cost to over 45 zł – more expensive than a diesel Golf. This gulf means that without reliable off-street parking, an EV’s fuel-cost advantage largely evaporates, particularly during holiday road trips when public charging is often the only option.
What Polish motorists can do to cut summer travel costs
Match your fuel to your mileage: If you own a compatible older petrol car, converting to LPG can slash your per-100 km cost to around 27 zł, saving roughly 14 zł compared with diesel and even more against petrol. Long-distance diesel drivers should investigate whether an LPG switch or a more efficient petrol model could pay off over the summer season.
Prioritise home charging if you go electric: EV owners who can install a home charger (or already use a domestic socket on a standard tariff) can cover 100 km for about 18 zł. Before setting off on holiday, plan routes around hotels or destinations with cheap overnight charging; avoid relying exclusively on fast public chargers, which can more than double the cost.
Trim your consumption on holiday trips: Driving at moderate highway speeds, keeping tyres properly inflated, and removing roof boxes when not needed can each cut fuel consumption by 5–10% – a meaningful offset against this summer’s much higher pump prices.
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