Q COSTARICA — At 12:01 am Thursday, a sharp increase in fuel prices will take effect after it was published today in the official gazette, La Gaceta.
The new prices that will be in effect at all service stations across the country:
- Diesel will increase to ¢716 per liter from ¢565
- Regular gasoline will increase to ¢748 per liter from ¢628.
- Super gasoline will increase to ¢733 per liter from ¢632
Other fuels such as LPG (GLP in Spanish), Bunker, Kerosen, Jet fuel and others, will also increase tomorrow.
The Public Services Regulatory Authority (Aresep) approved the price adjustment on April 30.
Tomorrow, with the increase, filling a 40-liter tank with diesel will cost ¢6,040 more; ¢4,800 for regular; and ¢4,040 for super.
Back in May 2022, a liter of regular gasoline in Costa Rica cost an average of ¢700, around $1.05 at the time, with the exchange rate at ¢665 per dollar. Fast forward four years to tomorrow, and that same liter will cost $1.66, based on an exchange rate of ¢450.
QTip: Here’s a trick to beat price hikes — just put in a fixed amount each time, like ¢10,000 colones. Sure, your car won’t travel as far on that, but at least you’re staying one step ahead of rising prices.