Current Fuel (Gasoline and Diesel Fuel) Costs in Mexico
Gasoline and diesel prices in Mexico went up substantially in January 2010 after being stable for 2009. The federal tax, IVA, went up 1 percent, which accounts for part of the increase. For tourists, there is little change as the peso declined against the US and Canadian dollars so the net cost is about the same for gasoline and diesel.
Fuel costs (unleaded gasoline, UBA, diesel or ultra low-sulfur diesel) in Mexico are still less than in the USA. Gas and diesel fuel prices are quoted in US and Canadian dollars.
For fuel costs in Mexico, see the Mexican fuel price page.
There is only unleaded gasoline (Magna - regular and Premium - super gasoline) in Mexico today. Magna is 87 octane. Premium gas is not only higher octane (91) but lower in sulfur (30 ppm).
There is supposed to be both ultra low sulfur (Ultra Bajo Azufre UBA-- 15 ppm) and low sulfur Mexican diesel fuel -- 30 ppm. But don't count on seeing much UBA diesel. I do not drive a diesel vehicle, but have read blogs by those who do who say that they have driven a couple of thousand miles on the "regular" diesel in their newer RV's requiring ultra low sulfur diesel with no ill consequences.
Baja has low sulfur diesel (not everywhere, though). I do not know about UBA. Talk to a competent diesel mechanic about the effects of using fuel with higher sulphur content on your engine before deciding to drive a newer diesel vehicle to Mexico.
It it a waste of money to buy Premium gasoline in Mexico if your vehicle uses regular gas in the USA.
For monthly updated gasoline and diesel prices in Mexico, see the Mexican fuel price page.
I've seen some RV bloggers suggest you drive over the Mexican border to fill up with diesel. Driving across the Mexican border just to fill up and driving back to the States is false economy, since you must have Mexican RV or auto insurance and will have to wait an hour or more in line at the Mexican border. Plus you need a passport to reenter the USA.
However, both gasoline and diesel costs vary by regions of Mexico. This is a little-known (as heard on the TV show Cheers) fact and likely to lead to different people swearing that the cost of gas or diesel is different than someone else. Heck, I used to think the price was the same all over Mexico except for the border area and Mexico City. The Mexican gas and diesel prices on the next page are based on the cost of unleaded and high octane gasoline and diesel in the majority of Mexico.
In the Northern border regions of Mexico (Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, Sonora) fuel costs more than in the interior of Mexico. The southern border, Chetumal, Q. Roo seems to be the least expensive. Metropolitan areas like Mexico City, Cuatla, Cuernavaca, Iguala, Pachuca, Queretaro, Toluca, Tula and the whole Valley of Mexico have the second-least expensive fuel costs in Mexico. To further complicate the cost of fuel situation, states with a 10% tax (Sonora, Baja California, Baja California Sur and Quintana Roo) have a slightly different pricing structure.
For fuel costs in Mexico, see the Mexican fuel price page.