Drivers in Costa Rica will soon be paying considerably more at the pump after the public services regulator approved yet another round of fuel price increases, including a 12.38% jump in regular gasoline that will make it more expensive than premium fuel. The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) approved the adjustment a couple of days ago, with the new prices announced yesterday. Regular gasoline will increase by ₡89 per liter, climbing from ₡719 to ₡808, while premium gasoline will rise by ₡42, from ₡764 to ₡806.
That creates an unusual situation at Costa Rica’s gas stations. Regular gasoline, traditionally the cheaper option, will cost ₡2 more per liter than premium, while diesel will also reach ₡808 following an increase of ₡23. The higher prices have been approved but will not take effect until the regulatory resolution is published in the official government newspaper, La Gaceta. Under the resolution, the new rates begin the following day. An exact implementation date had not been confirmed as of Friday morning.
At the new price, filling a 40-liter (10.6-gallon) tank with regular gasoline will cost ₡32,320 (about $71), up from ₡28,760 (about $64) today, an increase of ₡3,560 (about $8) per fill-up and with regular. Drivers filling a larger 60-liter (15.9-gallon) tank will pay ₡5,340 more than before.
For those who commute daily, operate delivery vehicles or regularly travel between Costa Rica’s major cities, the additional expense could quickly add up. The increases are not limited to gasoline and diesel. Households that use propane gas for cooking will also face higher costs, with the price of a standard 25-pound cylinder rising by ₡549, from ₡7,172 to ₡7,721.
ARESEP estimates that approximately 53% of Costa Rican households use this type of cooking gas. Restaurants, small food businesses and other commercial establishments that depend on propane will also be affected. The regulator says the adjustments reflect rising international fuel costs, which have been influenced by instability in global energy markets.
Costa Rica imports all of its finished petroleum fuels, making domestic prices especially sensitive to changes in international supply, shipping costs and the exchange rate between the colón and the U.S. dollar. Energy officials pointed to disruptions involving oil shipments from the Middle East, declining global inventories and higher refining and transportation costs. Diesel supplies have faced particular pressure as demand and supply conditions fluctuate internationally.
The latest adjustment was calculated using fuel purchases made by the Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery (RECOPE) between September 11 and October 8. The exchange rate also played a role. ARESEP used an average rate of ₡456.66 per dollar for the new calculation, compared with ₡450.41 in the previous adjustment. Because fuel purchases are made in dollars, that difference increases the amount paid in colones even when the international price of a product remains unchanged.
For Costa Rican businesses, higher fuel prices can create expenses that extend well beyond the cost of filling a vehicle. Transportation companies, agricultural producers, delivery services and businesses that distribute goods throughout Costa Rica depend heavily on diesel and gasoline. When those costs rise, companies may face pressure to adjust their operating budgets or eventually pass some of the increases on to customers.
Tourism operators could also feel the effects. Rental car companies, shuttle services and tour providers frequently travel long distances between Juan Santamaría International Airport, the Central Valley and popular destinations such as La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo and the southern Pacific coast.
Tourists coming here and are renting cars will find the same regulated fuel prices as Costa Rican motorists. However, any increase in tour prices, transportation fares or rental rates would depend on decisions by individual businesses and where applicable, additional regulatory approvals.
The latest adjustment comes after earlier fuel increases in October, adding to transportation expenses as Costa Rica approaches the busy end-of-year holiday and tourism season. The approved changes also highlight how fuel prices can move differently depending on the type of petroleum product. Although regular gasoline is typically cheaper than premium, international market conditions and the formulas used to calculate domestic prices can occasionally reverse that relationship.
For those who don’t have a diesel car, once the new rates become effective, premium gasoline will actually be slightly cheaper than regular gasoline, but you should still follow the fuel specifications recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. The regulator’s decision covers nearly two million vehicles circulating in Costa Rica, including private cars, motorcycles, buses, trucks and other commercial transportation.
While our government regulates retail fuel prices, those prices are reviewed periodically and can increase or decrease depending on the cost of imported petroleum products and other factors included in the pricing formula. For now, drivers have a short period before the latest adjustment takes effect. Once the new prices are officially published and implemented, a liter of regular gasoline and diesel will both cost ₡808, marking another increase in the cost of getting around Costa Rica.
