Is cheaper gas worth the drive?

A lower sign price can save less than the detour costs. Compare both before leaving.

Start with two prices from the Calgary price map or dated station reports. The numbers below are an illustrative example, not today’s prices. Your entries stay in this page; the calculator does not send them to our server.

Your comparison

Use the price for the grade your vehicle needs.
Enter the comparable pump price, before uncertain rewards.
Use the amount you will actually buy, rather than tank capacity.
Count the detour and return beyond your normal route. This is road distance.
Use your trip computer or a realistic estimate for this drive.
Include only time added by choosing the other station.
Leave at 0 for a cash-only comparison. This is a personal preference.

Your estimated savings

$3.65

Cash saved after extra driving fuel.

Saving at the pump
$5.00
Extra driving fuel cost
$1.35
Optional time cost
$0.00
Saving after fuel and time
$3.65

The other station needs to be at least 2.70¢/L cheaper to cover your extra fuel and chosen time cost.

Check the report time, station access and actual pump price. A small estimated saving can disappear if the price changes.

Three fill-ups, three different decisions

These are worked examples at 150¢/L nearby and 140¢/L at the other station, with a car using 9 L/100 km. They illustrate the trade-off; they are not station quotes.

SituationFuel boughtExtra drivingPump savingCash left after driving
Already passing the station50 L0 km$5.00$5.00
A dedicated detour50 L10 km$5.00$3.65
A small top-up on the same detour10 L10 km$1.00−$0.35

In the 50 L detour example, valuing 20 extra minutes at $15/hour adds a $5 time cost. The $3.65 cash saving becomes a loss of $1.35 after valuing time. If you would already be shopping nearby, enter only the extra distance and minutes caused by the fuel stop.

How the calculation works

Pump saving = (nearby price − other price) × litres ÷ 100. Extra driving fuel cost = extra km × L/100 km ÷ 100 × nearby price ÷ 100. Time cost = extra minutes ÷ 60 × hourly value. Break-even discount = (extra fuel cost + time cost) × 100 ÷ litres.

Prices are in Canadian cents per litre and results in Canadian dollars. We value detour fuel at the nearby price as a conservative assumption. Fuel consumption is held constant; idling, cold starts, hills and congestion can increase it. Wear, parking, membership fees and reward points are excluded. Subtract any unavoidable extra charge from the displayed saving.

Check these details before comparing

  • Compare the same fuel grade. Follow your vehicle’s fuel requirement; a lower-grade price is not a substitute for a required premium grade.
  • Check membership and payment requirements. A posted discount may not be available to everyone.
  • Use total extra road kilometres. The nearby-station finder’s straight-line distance is not driving distance.
  • Prefer a recent report. Our coverage and data-quality page explains missing, undated and older prices.

For a measured consumption figure, use our receipt-based L/100 km calculator. You can also consult your vehicle records or Natural Resources Canada’s fuel consumption ratings. A rating is a comparison benchmark; your actual driving may differ.

Calculator and examples reviewed November 5, 2026. Report a calculation issue with the inputs you used.