Diesel nears £2 a litre in Northern Ireland: the cheapest and most expensive towns compared

Diesel prices across Northern Ireland have opened up into a sizeable postcode-style gap, with motorists in some towns paying close to £2 a litre while drivers elsewhere were still seeing averages in the mid-180s.

The latest town-by-town figures published by the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland for 1 October 2026 show just how large the difference has become. Newry had the highest average diesel price in the published list at 199.4p per litre. At the other end, Dungannon averaged 184.9p.

That is a difference of 14.5p per litre. On a 50-litre fill, the gap works out at about £7.25. On a 55-litre fill it is just under £8. For a high-mileage diesel driver filling regularly, that difference quickly becomes material.

Where was diesel most expensive in Northern Ireland?

Among the towns listed by the Consumer Council on 1 October, the highest average diesel prices included:

• Newry: 199.4p per litre
• Armagh: 198.4p
• Ballyclare: 197.2p
• Antrim: 195.9p
• Banbridge: 195.9p
• Newcastle: 195.9p
• Newtownards: 195.9p
• Strabane: 195.9p
• Irvinestown: 195.9p

The figures are town averages from the stations represented in the Consumer Council data. They do not mean every forecourt in a town was charging the same price. In Newry, for example, the published diesel range was 198.9p to 199.9p.

Where was diesel cheapest?

The lowest town average in the 1 October list was Dungannon at 184.9p. Bangor was also relatively low at 188.6p, Lisburn averaged 188.9p, while Ballymena and Randalstown were both shown at 189.9p.

Belfast sat between the extremes at an average of 191.6p per litre, with the Consumer Council recording a wide Belfast range of 183.9p to 197.9p. That spread is a reminder that the town average is useful for comparing areas, but drivers can still find substantial differences between individual forecourts within the same place.

How much can shopping around actually save?

The largest town-average gap in this snapshot was 14.5p a litre. The practical saving depends on how much fuel a driver buys.

• 40 litres: about £5.80 difference
• 50 litres: about £7.25 difference
• 55 litres: about £7.98 difference
• 60 litres: about £8.70 difference

That does not automatically mean a motorist should drive a long distance just to reach a cheaper station. The fuel used, time taken and detour distance can wipe out part of the saving. The useful comparison is between stations already on or close to a journey.

Diesel rose sharply in several towns in one week

Comparing the Consumer Council's 24 September and 1 October town data shows that many diesel averages moved higher within seven days.

Newry rose from 193.9p to 199.4p, an increase of 5.5p per litre. Belfast moved from 188.3p to 191.6p, while Dungannon rose from 182.9p to 184.9p. Ballyclare increased from 192.2p to 197.2p.

The increases were not identical everywhere, which is one reason national or Northern Ireland-wide averages can hide what individual motorists are actually facing locally.

Petrol is also expensive, but the diesel gap is more dramatic

The same 1 October dataset shows petrol averages ranging from 163.9p in Randalstown to 169.9p in Newry. That is a 6p-per-litre gap, equivalent to £3 on a 50-litre fill.

Diesel therefore showed a much wider geographical spread in this particular snapshot. It was also considerably more expensive than petrol in every town listed.

Why PureCar is using town averages rather than one-off pump photos

A photograph of a single forecourt can be striking, but it tells motorists very little about the wider local market. The Consumer Council's town-level data gives a better comparison because it publishes average, highest and lowest observed prices for each location represented.

That still comes with an important limitation: the data is a snapshot and forecourt prices can change quickly. A station may move its price after the figures are collected, and the number of stations represented can differ by town.

For that reason, drivers should treat the figures as a guide to the local market rather than a promise of what a particular station will charge when they arrive.

What does a 199.4p diesel average mean in pounds?

At 199.4p a litre, 50 litres costs about £99.70. A 55-litre purchase costs about £109.67. At Dungannon's 184.9p average, the equivalent figures are about £92.45 for 50 litres and £101.70 for 55 litres.

Those calculations use the published town averages. A driver's actual bill will depend on the forecourt price and the exact amount of fuel purchased.

What drivers can do before filling up

• Compare nearby forecourts rather than assuming the closest one is cheapest.
• Look at the price per litre before committing to a large fill.
• If a journey crosses several towns, compare prices along the route rather than making a separate fuel-only trip.
• Remember that motorway-style convenience locations and low-volume sites can differ materially from nearby competitors.
• Check current prices again if the figures you are using are several days old.

Why this matters especially to Northern Ireland diesel drivers

Diesel remains important to many Northern Ireland motorists, particularly people covering longer rural commutes, tradespeople, van users and drivers of older diesel cars. A difference of several pence per litre may look small on a forecourt sign but becomes much larger when multiplied by a full tank and repeated over a month.

The 1 October figures therefore tell two stories at once: diesel was expensive across much of Northern Ireland, and where a driver filled up could make a noticeable difference to the bill.

Frequently asked questions

Was diesel actually £2 a litre in Northern Ireland?

The Consumer Council's 1 October town data showed Newry's average at 199.4p a litre and its highest observed price at 199.9p. Several other towns had averages in the high 190s. Individual pump prices can change after the data is collected.

Which town had the cheapest average diesel in the 1 October data?

Dungannon, at 184.9p per litre.

Which town had the highest average?

Newry, at 199.4p per litre.

How often should drivers re-check fuel prices?

Fuel prices can move quickly, so a weekly data snapshot is useful for comparison but should not be treated as a live forecourt quote. Drivers making a special journey for fuel should check the latest available price first.