Fuel Cost Calculator
To plan a road trip you need three things: the distance of the route, your vehicle's fuel efficiency (km/L), and the fuel price. With those inputs, the calculator tells you how many liters you need, how much you will spend, and the CO₂ emissions of the trip.
A 45 km trip (Guatemala City → Antigua) in a car that gets 12 km/L with gas at Q10/L needs 3.75 liters and costs Q37.50. The same car on a trip to Quetzaltenango (205 km) would spend about Q171.
Formula
Liters needed = Distance (km) / Fuel efficiency (km/L) Total cost = Liters × Price per liter CO₂ = Liters × Emission factor (2.31 kg/L gasoline, 2.68 kg/L diesel)
Step-by-step example
- Distance = 205 km (Guatemala → Quetzaltenango)
- Vehicle efficiency = 12 km/L
- Liters = 205 ÷ 12 = 17.08 liters
- Price = Q10/L → Cost = 17.08 × 10 = Q170.83
Scenario table (same engine logic)
| Distance | Efficiency | Liters | Price/L | Total cost | |---|---|---|---|---| | 45 km (Antigua) | 12 km/L | 3.75 | Q10 | Q37.50 | | 145 km (Atitlán) | 12 km/L | 12.08 | Q10 | Q120.83 | | 205 km (Xela) | 12 km/L | 17.08 | Q10 | Q170.83 | | 500 km (Petén) | 12 km/L | 41.67 | Q10 | Q416.67 | | 500 km (Petén) | 8 km/L | 62.50 | Q10 | Q625.00 |
Average fuel efficiency by vehicle type
| Vehicle type | Efficiency (km/L) | |---|---| | Compact car | 14-18 km/L | | Sedan | 10-14 km/L | | SUV | 8-12 km/L | | Pickup | 7-10 km/L | | Minibus | 5-8 km/L |
Common distances from Guatemala City
| Destination | Distance | |---|---| | Antigua Guatemala | 45 km | | Lake Atitlán (Panajachel) | 145 km | | Quetzaltenango | 205 km | | Río Dulce | 275 km | | Monterrico | 125 km | | Flores, Petén | 500 km |
How to read the result
Total cost depends more on fuel efficiency than on price: dropping from 12 to 8 km/L increases the Petén trip cost by more than Q200. Check tire pressure, avoid excess load, and keep a steady speed to improve your real efficiency. If you travel in a group, splitting the cost among passengers often makes the trip much cheaper than a bus or plane on short routes.
Keep a steady 80-90 km/h on the highway for the best efficiency. Air conditioning can reduce fuel economy by up to 10%.
CO₂ emissions
Each liter of gasoline burned produces about 2.31 kg of CO₂; diesel produces 2.68 kg per liter. A 500 km trip at 12 km/L generates around 96 kg of CO₂. Consider sharing the ride with more passengers to reduce the footprint per person.
Fuel prices change constantly (taxes, subsidies, and international variation); use the current price at your station. Real efficiency depends on the model, load, weather, and driving style. Emission factors are reference averages, not exact measurements for your vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
Divide the total distance by your vehicle's fuel efficiency (km/L) and multiply by the price per liter. Example: 205 km ÷ 12 km/L = 17.08 L × Q10 = Q170.83.
Prices vary; as a recent reference, regular gasoline averages around Q35-40 per gallon (Q9-10 per liter). Check the current official price at the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
An average sedan gets 10-14 km/L on the highway; SUVs and pickups get 7-10 km/L. Compacts can exceed 14 km/L.
On average, each liter of gasoline burned produces 2.31 kg of CO₂; diesel produces 2.68 kg per liter. Multiply the liters consumed by that factor.
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