Update, October 8, 2026 — fuel taxes suspended from October 1 to December 31. Decree 22-2026, sanctioned by President Arévalo and published in the Diario de Centro América on September 30, exempts premium and regular gasoline and diesel from the IDP fuel tax and from VAT from October 1 through December 31, 2026 (IDP is a fixed Q4.70 per gallon on premium, Q4.60 on regular and Q1.30 on diesel; VAT is 12%); the decree’s own estimate is a cut of up to Q9.41 per gallon for premium, Q9.10 for regular and Q6.34 for diesel, and the full exemption must be passed on to the consumer and shown on the electronic invoice (Diario de Centro América). The exemption took effect on October 1 (AGN, October 1) and on October 5 AGN reported that MEM had published the implementing regulation, Government Agreement (Acuerdo Gubernativo) 164-2026 (AGN, October 5). MEM’s own estimate of the saving per gallon is about Q9.05 for premium, Q8.33 for regular and Q6.45 for diesel (AGN, October 1), and any MEM price on this page monitored before October 1 does not include the exemption. Both taxes return on January 1, 2027. The separate Decree 21-2026 (Q39/Q41 price caps) was vetoed. Details on Guatemala gas prices today.
How much does it cost to fill your car’s tank in Guatemala? Depends on tank capacity and fuel type. This page gives estimates for the most common models in Guatemala at current prices.
Shortcut: Take your tank capacity (in gallons, in the manual or fuel cap guide) and multiply by your current fuel price. See current prices.
Typical full-tank cost (3 August 2026 prices)
At MEM’s monitored self-service prices for Guatemala City and surrounding areas, 3 August 2026: Super Q42.08, Regular Q41.08, Diesel Q43.80 per gallon. Full-service pumps run about Q1.09 more per gallon — roughly Q16 extra on a 15-gallon fill. Diesel is now the most expensive of the three, having overtaken regular in the week of 20 July 2026.
Compact vehicles (regular gasoline)
| Model | Tank capacity | Full cost at Q41.08 |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris / Vios | 11 gal | Q452 |
| Hyundai Accent | 12 gal | Q493 |
| Kia Picanto | 9 gal | Q370 |
| Suzuki Swift | 10 gal | Q411 |
| Chevrolet Spark | 9 gal | Q370 |
| Nissan March / Versa | 11 gal | Q452 |
Sedans / midsize SUVs (regular)
| Model | Tank capacity | Full cost at Q41.08 |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | 13 gal | Q534 |
| Honda Civic | 12.4 gal | Q509 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 14.5 gal | Q596 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 16 gal | Q657 |
| Kia Sportage | 16 gal | Q657 |
| Nissan Sentra | 13 gal | Q534 |
| Honda CR-V | 14 gal | Q575 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 16 gal | Q657 |
Large SUVs / gasoline pickups
| Model | Tank capacity | Full cost at Q41.08 |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota 4Runner | 23 gal | Q945 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | 25 gal | Q1,027 |
| Nissan Frontier (gasoline) | 21 gal | Q863 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 26 gal | Q1,068 |
| Ford Explorer | 19 gal | Q781 |
Diesel pickups / SUVs
| Model | Tank capacity | Full cost at Q43.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Hilux Diesel | 21 gal | Q920 |
| Mitsubishi L200 Diesel | 19 gal | Q832 |
| Mazda BT-50 | 20 gal | Q876 |
| Nissan Frontier Diesel | 21 gal | Q920 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Diesel | 23 gal | Q1,007 |
| Mitsubishi Montero | 23 gal | Q1,007 |
On 1 July 2026, with the subsidy still running, diesel was Q27.25 — that same Hilux tank cost about Q572. Diesel drivers absorbed the biggest increase of anyone.
Super / premium vehicles (super fuel)
| Model | Tank capacity | Full cost at Q42.08 |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic Turbo / Si | 12.4 gal | Q522 |
| BMW 3 Series | 16 gal | Q673 |
| Mercedes C-Class | 17 gal | Q715 |
| Audi A4 | 15 gal | Q631 |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | 13 gal | Q547 |
Branded grades (V-Power and similar) add about Q0.50 per gallon on top of standard super.
Estimated monthly cost by typical use
To budget your fuel month:
| Use type | Km/month | Tanks/month | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light urban (office nearby, errands) | 300-500 | 1-2 | Q530-Q1,070 |
| Normal urban (office + school + weekends) | 800-1,200 | 3-4 | Q1,600-Q2,140 |
| Active driver (Uber/delivery) | 2,500-3,500 | 8-12 | Q4,300-Q6,400 |
| Commercial (Toyota Hilux Diesel) | 5,000+ | 12-15 | Q11,000-Q13,800 |
The first three rows use a 13-gallon regular sedan tank (Q534 at Q41.08); the last uses a 21-gallon diesel tank (Q920 at Q43.80). Tanks per month are a usage assumption, not a measured figure — only the price is sourced.
How much you pay yearly
| Driver type | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light urban family vehicle | Q6,400-Q12,800 |
| Normal urban family vehicle | Q19,200-Q25,600 |
| Active driver (Uber/delivery) | Q51,300-Q76,900 |
| Commercial diesel pickup | Q132,500-Q165,600 |
These are the monthly figures above multiplied by 12 at 3 August 2026 prices — arithmetic, not a survey. The bands published here previously predated the July 2026 price jump.
Common mistakes that increase your cost
- Taking full service without thinking about it — full-service pumps run about Q1.09 per gallon above self-service, roughly Q16 on a 15-gallon fill. Prices are not regulated in Guatemala, so stations also differ from each other; MEM’s last full department table showed a Q1.36 spread between the cheapest and dearest departmental capitals
- Aggressive driving — sudden acceleration/braking reduces efficiency 15-25%
- Not maintaining correct tire pressure — low tires = -3-5% efficiency
- Carrying unnecessary weight — every 50 kg extra = -2% efficiency
- AC on every short trip — small but real impact (~3-5%)
What that is in dollars
Guatemala sells fuel by the US gallon, so the comparison is direct. At the Banguat reference rate of Q7.6188 to the dollar on 3 August 2026, MEM’s monitored self-service prices for that day convert to:
| Fuel | Q/gallon | US$/gallon (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | Q41.08 | $5.39 |
| Super | Q42.08 | $5.52 |
| Diesel | Q43.80 | $5.75 |
A 13-gallon sedan tank of regular is about US$70. On 1 July 2026, with the Decreto 11-2026 subsidy still running, regular was Q31.05 — about $4.07 a gallon at that week’s Q7.6242 — so the same tank was roughly US$53.
The US-average and salary-share rows that used to sit here were not traceable to a source and have been removed rather than restated.
For visiting diaspora
If you rent a car in Guatemala:
| Trip plan | Estimated fuel cost |
|---|---|
| 1 week, city + Antigua | Q500-Q1,000 |
| 2 weeks, multi-destination | Q1,500-Q2,500 |
| Tikal/Petén roundtrip from Guatemala | Q3,000-Q4,500 |
Rough planning bands at Q41.08 regular; a diesel vehicle costs about 7% more per gallon, and Petén runs roughly Q1.15 above the capital.
Related
- Today’s Gas Price — current national prices
- Price by Department — regional variation
- Diesel vs Regular vs Premium — which fuel to use
- Price History — the 2026 subsidy and the jump after it ended
- Cost of Living in Guatemala — fuel in context
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fill an average car tank in Guatemala?
For a typical compact sedan (12-15 gallons) with regular gasoline at MEM’s monitored self-service price of Q41.08/gallon on 3 August 2026, filling from empty costs Q493-Q616. A large diesel pickup (20-24 gallons) costs Q876-Q1,051, because diesel is now the most expensive grade at Q43.80. Full-service pumps add about Q1.09 per gallon. Prices moved sharply after the Decreto 11-2026 subsidy ended on 2 July 2026, so check /gas-prices/ for the current figure.
How many kilometers does a full tank give?
Compact regular sedan: 450-550 km. Midsize SUV: 350-450 km. Large diesel pickup: 600-800 km (better efficiency offsets bigger tank). For your specific model, multiply tank capacity by typical miles/gallon.
Is it legal to fill the tank to the top?
Yes, but most tanks have an automatic stop mechanism when full. Forcing more fuel (the ’last drop’) can damage the vehicle’s EVAP system and is prohibited in many countries due to pollution. Stations in Guatemala generally respect the automatic stop.
Is it worth always filling the tank or half?
Filling completely is more efficient: fewer trips to the station, less weight if you only fill half… actually the difference is marginal. For frequent drivers (>500 km/week) filling completely is worth it. For occasional urban use, half tank is fine.
