I am planning a trip out west and could come home either across Canada or down through the US. Is gas cheaper or more expensive in Canada vs. the US-- on average and assuming the dollar and Canadian dollar are on a par? Thanks

Bud,

Check out the Flying-J web site and you will see prices here and in Canada. Need to change gals over to liters. One gal is 3.785411784 liters. Use the nice web site below to get correct information.

http://www.flyingj.com/fuel/gasoline_CF.cfm?state=ALLyig-J

http://www.calculateme.com/Volume/Gallons/ToLiters.htm

Hi Bud,

The short answer: Gas is more expensive in Canada.

Details:

At this moment, the US dollar and the Canadian dollar are at par, but there may be wild swings in a relatively short time. Ex: In November the Canadian dollar was 10% higher than the US dollar. Economists predict (what that may be worth I don't know) that the tendency might be a Canadian dollar above par, as your current President does not seem very gifted to manage the economy.

At present regular gas is from 0.93$ to 1.19$ a litre. Gas is sold in litres in Canada, 3.79 litres make one US gallon, so a US gallon is from 3.52$ to 4.51$.

Generally speaking, diesel is a little cheaper than regular gas most of the year in most areas, but may be a little more tha regular gas in winter

To check out current gas prices in the US and Canada, here is a link:
http://www.gasbuddy.com/

Hope this helps.

Thanks so much. I checked some of those sites but was not sure if the price was liters-- I thought so, but was not sure-- so thanks a bunch

Another thing. Are gas prices "controlled" in Canada? I was wondering because I noticed, at least in British Columbia:

1. Each city varied by 1 or two pennies
2. Within one city, all gas stations charged the EXACT same price.

I found the No. 2 thing to be really odd! Well, it was convenient in that you didn't have to hunt for cheap prices, but it just seemed odd....

JJ

Hi DXSMac,

Fuel prices are not controlled in Canada. There are more taxes on the fuel sold here than in USA which accounts for a major part of the higher price. In Regina where I live the cheapest price for regular gas is 99.9 and the highest price is 107.9. In US gallons that's a price spread of over 25 cents. Cheapest diesel here is at Flying J (branded Shell) at 97.9 (after flying J discount) and highest price is 104.9

Thanks! It just looked like there was some type of "control" because in Vancouver, every station charged the EXACT same price.

JJ

Hi DXSMac,

As of Today here are some prices in Vancouver.

102.4 Chevron
102.4 Petro Canada
103.9 Costco
104.4 Esso, Shell,
and the high price is:

114.1 Shell

Prices courtesy of Gas Buddy

Ok, you have shown me the light. If those prices are "liter" prices, HOLY COW, what a ripoff!

JJ

Hi,

Yes, they are the price per liter, which translated to US gallons means a price differential of over 45 cents between the high and low price! Definitely worth looking around for the "best price" I'd say.