Moroccan Petrol Costs Nearly 4.5 Times More Than in Algeria
At 15.18 dirhams per litre, petrol in Morocco costs nearly four and a half times as much as in Algeria. A ranking of 41 African countries reveals striking price gaps between neighbours, largely linked to differences in subsidies, taxation and price-setting.
Fifteen dirhams in Morocco, barely 3.40 dirhams in Algeria. The gap is striking for motorists. According to data from GlobalPetrolPrices on October 12, 2026, a litre of petrol costs $1.557 in Morocco, compared with $0.349 in its eastern neighbour. That is a price difference of nearly 4.5 times, highlighted in an African ranking published Sunday by Les Afriques.
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A comparison with other North African countries confirms this outlier status. A litre of petrol costs $0.842 in Tunisia, $0.455 in Egypt and just $0.023 in Libya. Of these five countries, Morocco has the highest price.
Across the continent, the kingdom ranks 25th out of 41 countries in a list ordered from cheapest to most expensive. Twenty-four African countries have lower prices than Morocco, while sixteen have higher prices.
Subsidies, taxes: why such wide gaps?
The difference is due in part to energy policies. Algeria and Libya, both oil producers, keep fuel prices heavily subsidized. In Morocco, prices were liberalized in 2015. Taxes, import costs and distributor margins therefore directly affect the amount paid at the pump, in a sector where the removal of subsidies is regularly criticized.
However, petrol should not be confused with diesel. The ranking covers only 95-octane unleaded petrol. Nor does it allow for a direct comparison of motorists’ purchasing power, as incomes and tax systems vary considerably from one country to another.
Another figure illustrates the pressure on Moroccan drivers: according to GlobalPetrolPrices, petrol cost 12.69 dirhams per litre a year earlier, compared with 15.18 dirhams on October 12, 2026. That is an increase of 2.49 dirhams per litre, or 19.6%. The cost of filling a 50-litre tank has risen by 124.50 dirhams in a year.
