[ZURICH]

I have recently mooved from Venezuela to Switzerland on a new contract and was shocked at fuel prices here in Europe, take a peek at what the rest of the world is paying. I have a house in sunny Venezuela so will be returning at the earliest possibility. Enjoy the trip

When it comes to petrol, you'll struggle to find many other countries with higher prices than Britain. In fact, to be precise — if you did look, you'd find two.

Yes, according to stats from Car Insurer Staveley Head, the UK has the third priciest pump rates in the world, with an average price of 135p per litre. Norway's capital, Oslo, tops the rankings with an average price of 164p per litre. You can see Staveley Head's full infographic here.

But which countries have the lowest prices? Here are the top ten cheapest places to buy petrol in the world...

[See also: Will we ever have £1-a-litre petrol again?]

10. Algeria: Algiers — 20p per litre

Algeria is one of the Africa's biggest oil producers turning out an average of 1.2 million barrels a day. This flood of oil has pushed down petrol prices in the country to 20p per litre, more than six times cheaper than the average pump price here in the UK.

The country's petrol supplies also played a vital role in the recent battle against Colonel Gaddafi in neighbouring Libya. With petrol production in the war-torn country running dry, rebel fighters relied on smuggled fuel from Algeria to power the final push against the corrupt dictator. Hurrah!

9. Oman: Muscat — 20p per litre


Oman's petrol prices also stand at just 20p per litre. Like Algeria, the Arabic state is drenched in oil, stepping up production in the last six months to 878,000 barrels every day.

8. Egypt: Cairo — 19p per litre

Egypt is something of a transport hub when it comes to petrol. The Suez Canal — a vital supply line running across the east of the country — carries an estimated one million barrels of oil from the Persian Gulf every day.

That's why at the peak of the country's revolution against former President Hosni Mubarak, oil prices began to climb, amid fears that the unrest would interfere with the Suez supply route.

But while this oil price rise pushes up petrol costs here in the UK, the rate petrol is sold at the pump over in Egypt remains relatively low, at just 19p per litre. But with the country's government still anything but stable, it's anyone guess as to how long costs will stay this cheap.

[See also: UK supermarkets cut petrol prices]

7. Qatar: Doha — 15p per litre

Prior to the discovery of oil in Qatar, the small Arab emirates' economy was mainly built on fishing and pearl hunting. Now the country's national petroleum supplier accounts for 70% of the government's revenue. Recent high oil prices have made per capita income in Qatar amongst the highest across the globe while petrol prices are the seventh lowest at just 15p per litre.

6. Kuwait: Kuwait City — 14p per litre

Kuwait is tenth largest oil producer in the world and its supply is thought to account for 10% of global reserves. But nevertheless, the government subsidises both public transport and petrol bringing prices down to just 14p per litre.

5. Bahrain: Manama — 13p per litre

Compared with its Middle-Eastern neighbours, Bahrain has fairly limited oil supplies. However 60% of the country's economy is still rooted in petroleum refining, which has grown strongly over the last ten years. The country is at fifth in the rankings with an average petrol price of just 13p per litre.

4. Turkmenistan: Ashgabat — 12p per litre

The UK government taxes petrol to the high-heaven, while in Turkmenistan they give it away — literally. Every driver in the Turkic state is entitled to 120 litres of petrol for free every month. If they exceed this, the pump price is only 12p per litre.

3. Libya: Tripoli — 9p per litre

As I mentioned earlier, petrol supplies in Libya have dried up recently owing to the closure of several oil plants in the midst of unrest in the country. But when pumping at its prime level, the country is the ninth largest oil producer with an average petrol price of just 9p per litre.

2. Saudi Arabia: Riyadh — 8p per litre

Saudi Arabia is the largest exporter of petroleum in the world. Domestically fuel prices sit at around 8p per litre. Yet only half of the population can take advantage of these low rates; as women in Saudi Arabia are banned from driving due to a religious fatwa (Islamic law) imposed by conservative Muslim clerics.

1. Venezuela: Caracas — 2/3p per litre

Yes, to get hold of the cheapest petrol in the world, you'll have to travel all the way to the South American country of Venezuela. Petrol is just 2-3p per litre in the socialist republic — that's around 54 times cheaper than prices here in the UK. So if you have a 70 litre fuel tank in your car, you could fill it up in Venezuela for around £1.50. While In Britain it would cost you a whopping £95.

Prices are kept low thanks to subsidies from the country's left-wing government

[no_ball]

when are we invading venezuela to bring them democracy with our missiles of peace, stealing their oil just happens to be a suitable by-product?

[- Paul -]

Link?

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by no_ball

when are we invading venezuela to bring them democracy with our missiles of peace, stealing their oil just happens to be a suitable by-product?

Chavez has cancer so things will change soon, the democrats will keep cheap fuel so I am looking forward to retirement time

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by - Paul -

Link?

Where would you like a link too ?

[Dave_3]

Just filled the car up in Switzerland on Sunday, drove back to Scotland on Monday/Tuesday.

Popped in to fill up yesterday ...... Blimey, it is nippy here. Switzerland is cheaper.

Came back from horribly humid and hot weather to be met with gale force winds, swelling seas with White horses and horizontal rain. Lovely.

D.

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

Just filled the car up in Switzerland on Sunday, drove back to Scotland on Monday/Tuesday.

Popped in to fill up yesterday ...... Blimey, it is nippy here. Switzerland is cheaper.

Came back from horribly humid and hot weather to be met with gale force winds, swelling seas with White horses and horizontal rain. Lovely.

D.

Hi dave, good to hear you made it back ok, lookin g forward to a wee dram on your return.

[phil200tdi]

Originally Posted by no_ball

when are we invading venezuela to bring them democracy with our missiles of peace, stealing their oil just happens to be a suitable by-product?

Nah Libya is much closer, hence we sent in the friendly bombs..

[- Paul -]

Originally Posted by ZURICH

Where would you like a link too ?

That article?

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by - Paul -

That article?

Ah, OK here you are.
http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/The...978605645.html

[acerboo]

just shows how much tax on fuel we are really paying!

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by acerboo

just shows how much tax on fuel we are really paying!

yes, the tax burden on European fuel is huge compared to developing nations, we should never have sold off all the north Sea assets.

Still, you could allways retire to Venezuela! See you there.

[gangzoom]

Just to be contrivisiol, So what's the point of developing these ridiculous electric cars when there's clearly plenty of the black gold to go around....maybe the green lobby is actually more interested in lining their own pockets than saving the planet

[m@rk]

Having just come back from 2 weeks driving around France, I was surprised at just how much fuel cost and also how much more petrol was over diesel.

I was paying up to €1.39 on the Autoroutes for diesel but petrol was well over €1.65

At least the diesel was cheaper (just) than in the UK for our holiday.

[mowflow]

I guess it's all relative. Venezuela is one of the poorest countries in the world so to the majority of people 20p per litre is a massive expensive and I dare say few even own cars. According to the article it also sounds like the lost revenue through fuel taxation kind of keeps the country in a hole with no money for education and health.

In saying that, the fuel prices in the UK are a rip off. One of the highest costs in the world yet we are in the top 20 oil producing countries. Pretty soon we will all have no choice but to ride bikes everywhere.

Electric cars aren't the solution, they are just a different route that will cause a different, possibly even worse set of problems further down the line.

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by mowflow

I guess it's all relative. Venezuela is one of the poorest countries in the world so to the majority of people 20p per litre is a massive expensive and I dare say few even own cars. According to the article it also sounds like the lost revenue through fuel taxation kind of keeps the country in a hole with no money for education and health.

In saying that, the fuel prices in the UK are a rip off. One of the highest costs in the world yet we are in the top 20 oil producing countries. Pretty soon we will all have no choice but to ride bikes everywhere.

Electric cars aren't the solution, they are just a different route that will cause a different, possibly even worse set of problems further down the line.

Just to set things straight, Venezuela is a very rich country, but as in Comunist USSR 2% of the people own 99% of the wealth, just before I left the Venezuelan government signed a deal with the Chinese to mine Uranium worth over $30 billion US they sell billions of dollars worth of oil, Gas and Coal every year. in natural assets, they are one of the riches nations on the planet. Along with Canada, they hold 50% of global oil reserves. with Chavez out of the way, there will be no better place to invest than Venezuela, the potential is huge. Oh the health service is great, Education is better than the US. And yes, you can live very comfortably thank you on $400 a month.

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by m@rk

Having just come back from 2 weeks driving around France, I was surprised at just how much fuel cost and also how much more petrol was over diesel.

I was paying up to €1.39 on the Autoroutes for diesel but petrol was well over €1.65

At least the diesel was cheaper (just) than in the UK for our holiday.

Yep, petrol is 1.70 CHF with Diesel at 1.90 CHF here in Switzerland, in germany petrol is about the same with Diesel being about the equivilent of 1.80 CHF .

A quick point for MOFLOW Petrol in Venezuela is about 2.5p per litre and most people have cars but quite a lot are old 70's and 80's American gas guzzlers, held together with rope and wire, even some of the taxis are a certain death trap but that is part of the "charm"

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by ZURICH

Just to set things straight, Venezuela is a very rich country, but as in Comunist USSR 2% of the people own 99% of the wealth, just before I left the Venezuelan government signed a deal with the Chinese to mine Uranium worth over $30 billion US they sell billions of dollars worth of oil, Gas and Coal every year. in natural assets, they are one of the riches nations on the planet. Along with Canada, they hold 50% of global oil reserves. with Chavez out of the way, there will be no better place to invest than Venezuela, the potential is huge. Oh the health service is great, Education is better than the US. And yes, you can live very comfortably thank you on $400 a month.

Until 98% of the population decides they've had enough and wants some equality....whats more important, equality for the people in a country you don't know or care about, or more money in your own pocket at the end of the month?

[acerboo]

i dont know why the government dont knock a £1 a gallon off petrol and stick it on aitcraft fuel as they pay zero tax. it would be a win win situation for the uk less people would go abroad for their holiday which would boost the tourist industry more jobs etc and more tourists would come from abroad to tour the uk as the fuel would be so much cheaper

[Dr G13]

What are the imported car duties/taxes like in Venezuela?

Is anyone else thinking along the lines of "motor enthusiast tourism"? lol

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by Dr G13

What are the imported car duties/taxes like in Venezuela?

Is anyone else thinking along the lines of "motor enthusiast tourism"? lol

i have never imported a car there but cars are cheap, not cars like we know but solid mend with hamer cars, better to hire one and just cruise. awsome scenary and roads, go for it