Is it worth filling up in Uruguay? The country with the most expensive gasoline in South America.

According to information from the website globalpetrolprices.com , Uruguay has the most expensive gasoline in South America.

It's also worth noting that, out of 193 countries in the world, 173 are evaluated by the website, and Uruguay ranks 15th among the most expensive.

But what makes fuel in Uruguay so expensive?

VAT (value-added tax) ends up being one of the main reasons why fuel prices are higher in Uruguay.

Those who live in the country and earn in Uruguayan pesos don't feel the high prices as much because their income is more proportional to the value of items, including fuel. However, visitors tend to feel the tax burden more acutely.

How does refueling in Uruguay actually work?

The process is the same as in Brazil. At the gas stations, you'll find attendants who will assist you, and you'll pay them directly or inside the convenience store.

What changes slightly is the nomenclature of the gasoline, which is called Super (cheaper) and Premium.

They say that Uruguayan gasoline is purer, yields better mileage, and ends up being worth filling up there for that reason, but honestly I didn't notice any difference in the car's average fuel consumption, even filling up the tank twice in the country.

Bomba de combustível em um posto da rede ANCAP.

Should I refuel within Uruguay?

It will all depend on your itinerary.

If you plan to drive to Montevideo and Punta del Este, departing from Rivera for example, you will inevitably need to refuel in the country, as it's around 500km from the last Brazilian gas station to these cities.

Now, if you're only going to travel from Chuí to Punta del Este and back, you might consider it unnecessary to refuel in Uruguay, depending on your car's fuel consumption and, of course, your driving style.

What are the convenience stores like at gas stations?

For the most part, they are similar to those in Brazil. There are restrooms you can use, Wi-Fi, coffee, and numerous other items such as cookies, chocolates, yerba mate, alfajores, and other things to take with you.

It's worth visiting one of these convenience stores, as you're sure to find some unique Uruguayan product that you'll most likely want to try.

Café Expresso - Posto ANCAP

If you enjoy a coffee break, I suggest stopping at one of the convenience stores during your trip.

Enjoy a coffee, chat with the person(s) you're with, put your phone down for a while, look around and listen to people speaking Spanish. If this is one of the first times you've been in contact with another language for so long, it will surely be a very memorable and unforgettable moment on your trip.

I don't speak Spanish, how do I fill up my car with gas?

Don't worry about it, as both the gas station attendants and the staff inside the convenience stores are already used to the flow of Brazilians in these places.

I had absolutely no problem with that. The staff is very friendly and you will be treated the same way.

The biggest question is which gasoline to use: Super (which is equivalent to regular gasoline in Brazil) or Premium (which is equivalent to additive-enhanced gasoline)?

I personally always use regular gasoline, as I'm not a fan of premium gasoline, so I opted for Super.

Payment methods.

The main forms of payment accepted are:

• Uruguayan Pesos

• Real

• US Dollars

• Credit or Debit Card (with international functionality enabled)

Please note that for card payments, the card issuer will convert the amount to dollars, and you need to have the international payment function enabled.