Gasoline In Russia Is More Expensive Than In The U.S.

• 30.01.2026, 17:04

In the year 2026, the gap will only grow.

In 2026, average gasoline prices in Russia have surpassed U.S. prices and continue to rise. This undermines the myth of "cheap energy" in Russia amid falling oil revenues and budget problems, Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service reports.

The NWR reports that as of early 2026, a liter of gasoline in the United States costs almost 5 rubles cheaper than in Russia. This difference shatters the established narrative of "cheap energy" for Russian consumers and is projected to only deepen.

Price dynamics in the two countries are diverging. In the U.S., fuel is getting cheaper along with the decline in world oil prices, while in Russia gasoline is steadily becoming more expensive, outpacing inflation. In January alone, average prices rose by 1.2%, the increase was recorded in 78 regions.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts further weakening of the market. It expects the average annual price of Brent to fall in 2026, which will further restrain fuel prices in the United States. At the same time, in Russia, the government continues to rely on inflated price expectations.

Russian budget deficit is being shifted to drivers

With export revenues declining, oil companies are increasingly compensating for losses inside the country.

The RF Ministry of Finance admits that the budget is facing a deficit due to the shortfall in oil and gas revenues, while the additional burden is being shifted to the domestic market.

Another signal of systemic problems was the ministry's statement on the need to use the national budget fund to finance the development of the Russian economy.