Anyone who lives near the French–Spanish border will recognise the familiar question: is it worth popping over to La Jonquera to fill up the tank? With fuel prices rising again, many drivers in the Pyrénées-Orientales are once more doing the maths.

For many people living in the Pyrénées-Orientales, a trip to La Jonquera is almost a routine errand. The bustling commercial zone just across the border has long attracted French shoppers looking for cheaper cigarettes, alcohol, perfume and clothing, as well as its large supermarkets and outlet stores. At weekends the car parks often fill with vehicles bearing French number plates, and it is not unusual to hear as much French as Spanish or Catalan being spoken. For locals, combining a fuel stop with a bit of cross-border shopping has become part of everyday border life. But is that about to change?

Why prices are rising

International tensions are once again influencing prices at the pump. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with concerns about key oil shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, have pushed oil prices higher, and motorists across Europe are starting to feel the effects.

France vs Spain

Around Perpignan, diesel is currently hovering around €1.69 per litre, while unleaded petrol can reach about €1.76 per litre. Just across the border in La Jonquera, however, diesel is closer to €1.48 per litre, with unleaded around €1.50 per litre – a difference of roughly 20 to 25 cents per litre.

How real is the saving?

On a typical 50-litre tank, that difference could mean a saving of around €10 to €12. However, the trip itself comes with costs. Fuel used for the journey, time spent driving and, for those using the motorway, a toll of around €3.40 can quickly reduce the overall saving.

The cross-border shopping culture

For many residents, however, the trip is rarely just about petrol. La Jonquera’s busy shopping zone attracts thousands of French visitors each week looking for cheaper tobacco, alcohol, clothing and supermarket goods. Combining several purchases in one visit can make the journey much more worthwhile.

Future outlook: possible price increases?.

There is also the possibility that Spanish fuel prices could rise soon. Consumer organisations in Spain have warned that increases in the price of Brent crude oil may push pump prices up by as much as 10 cents per litre in the coming weeks.

For those living close to the border, the temptation to fill up in Spain will probably remain. But while the difference in price can still be noticeable, the real savings often depend on how close you live – and whether you combine the trip with a bit of cross-border shopping.

One driver filling up near Perpignan summed it up simply: “If I’m already going to Spain for shopping, I’ll fill the tank there as well. But I wouldn’t drive all the way just for petrol anymore.”

So is it worth it?

For those living close to the border, the answer can still be yes – particularly if the trip is combined with shopping. But for drivers coming from further north, the savings on petrol alone may be smaller than expected once the journey costs are taken into account.