Norway now cheaper than Finland for fuel

Finnish drivers are increasingly filling up in northern Norway, where petrol prices have dropped below Finnish levels for the first time, Yle reports.

In Hessdalen, Norway, 95-octane petrol sells for as little as €1.85 per litre, while diesel is around €1.94. In Finland’s Inari region, the same fuels cost €2.10 and €2.00 respectively. In Karasjok, Norway, diesel was priced at 20.69 Norwegian kroner (about €1.86) and petrol at roughly €1.88 per litre.

Temporary tax cuts in Norway and Sweden have driven prices down, though Norway’s reductions have not matched Sweden’s. In Sweden, fuel has at times been up to 60 cents cheaper per litre than in Finland, leading to congestion at border stations like Haparanda.

Finnish tourists, including Helsinki resident Topi Mähönen and Vantaa’s Jani Salo, have taken advantage of the lower prices while travelling in northern Norway. Mähönen noted that once prices exceed €2 per litre, the cost becomes noticeable. Salo plans to detour via Sweden on his return trip south for cheaper fuel.

Mauri Portimo, a Finnish resident in Karasjok, said the price difference—15 to 20 cents per litre cheaper than Finland—makes it worthwhile for locals near the border to cross for fuel and shopping.