🇨🇳 Petrol price in China
A litre of petrol costs 9.25 CNY ($1.38) in China, or $5.22 per US gallon. It ranks #58 cheapest of 170 countries. That is up 9.9% in dollar terms since our first reading on 2026-07-03 ($1.25/L).
Per litre
9.25 CNY
$1.38 per litre · $5.22 per US gallon
50-litre tank
462 CNY
$69 · 1.8 days of average income
World rank
#58 of 170
11% below the world median
Since 2026-07-03
+9.9%
from $1.25 to $1.38 per litre (USD)
A year of driving
$1,158
12,000 km at 7 L/100 km · 8.1% of average income
EV vs petrol, per 100 km
$1.29 vs $9.65
home charging at $0.076/kWh
What petrol costs in China, in context
At $1.38 a litre, China sits below the global middle of the pack: the median country in our 170-country dataset pays $1.55. The closest cheaper country we cover is Nicaragua at $1.34. The closest pricier one is South Korea at $1.41.
Against an average income of $14,230 a year (World Bank GNI per capita, 2025), one full 50-litre tank takes 1.8 days of earnings. Driving 12,000 km a year in a typical car would use about 840 litres, costing $1,158, or 8.1% of that income.
Electricity changes the maths. Households in China pay about $0.076 per kWh, so an EV using 17 kWh per 100 km costs $1.29 to charge at home. A petrol car costs $9.65 for the same distance. Over a year of driving, that is roughly $1,003 saved on energy. Electricity prices by country →
Nearby on the price ladder
| Country | Local / litre | $/litre | $/US gallon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇷Brazil | 6.30 BRL | $1.26 | $4.78 |
| 🇬🇹Guatemala | 9.87 GTQ | $1.29 | $4.89 |
| 🇨🇴Colombia | 4,199 COP | $1.31 | $4.97 |
| 🇳🇮Nicaragua | 49.15 NIO | $1.34 | $5.06 |
| 🇨🇳China | 9.25 CNY | $1.38 | $5.22 |
| 🇰🇷South Korea | 1,883 KRW | $1.41 | $5.34 |
| 🇵🇰Pakistan | 394 PKR | $1.42 | $5.38 |
| 🇦🇷Argentina | 2,156 ARS | $1.42 | $5.38 |
| 🇱🇧Lebanon | 128,343 LBP | $1.43 | $5.43 |
Source: GlobalPetrolPrices.com, retrieved 2026-10-13. Converted at current exchange rates.
Local-currency figures are the USD price converted at the snapshot exchange rate, so they can differ slightly from the pump board. Driving estimates assume 7 L/100 km for petrol cars and 17 kWh/100 km for EVs.
Petrol in China: common questions
What is the petrol price in China today?
Petrol costs about 9.25 CNY per litre, or $1.38 per litre ($5.22 per US gallon) in China, based on GlobalPetrolPrices data retrieved 2026-10-13.
How much does it cost to fill a tank in China?
A typical 50-litre tank costs about 462 CNY ($69), which is 1.8 days of average income.
Is petrol expensive in China?
China ranks #58 cheapest of 170 countries. Its price is 11% below the world median of $1.55 per litre.
Is an electric car cheaper to run than a petrol car in China?
At household electricity rates of $0.076/kWh, an EV costs about $1.29 per 100 km to charge at home versus about $9.65 for a petrol car using 7 L/100 km. The EV is about 87% cheaper per kilometre on energy alone.
Why does the price of gasoline differ so much between countries?
Tax is the biggest factor. Fuel duty and VAT can make up more than half the pump price in much of Europe, while oil producers often subsidise fuel below world market prices. Exchange-rate moves also shift prices in dollar terms even when the local pump price is unchanged.