Tankful
Fuel for the drive from Kraków to Budapest (523 km) currently costs about €65.77 in a petrol car and €61.96 in a diesel, one way. From Warsaw (882 km) it's €113 and €108. A litre of petrol averages €1.73/l in Hungary and €1.85/l in Slovakia.
Fuel cost to Budapest
| Route | km | Petrol (95) 7 l | Diesel 6 l | LPG 9 l |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraków – Budapest | 523 km | €65.77 | €61.96 | €41.27 |
| Warsaw – Budapest | 882 km | €113 | €108 | €66.55 |
From Kraków the route crosses Slovakia, and almost half of the distance is in Hungary:
| Country | Share of route | km | Petrol (95) | Diesel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungary | 47% | 244 km | €1.73/l | €1.93/l |
| Slovakia | 34% | 176 km | €1.85/l | €1.98/l |
| Poland | 20% | 103 km | €1.85/l | €2.06/l |
| Route average | 100% | 523 km | €1.80/l | €1.97/l |
The fastest route from Warsaw runs through Czechia and Slovakia – see the Kraków – Budapest and Warsaw – Budapest route pages. Prices are national averages from 28 September 2026.
Where to fill up on the way
- Poland vs Slovakia: A litre of petrol costs practically the same on both sides of the border.
- Slovakia vs Hungary: A litre of petrol is cheaper in Hungary by €0.12 – €6.19 saved on a 50-litre fill-up.
- Diesel, Poland vs Hungary: A litre of diesel is cheaper in Hungary by €0.13 – €6.43 saved on a 50-litre fill-up.
| Series | Latest week | A year ago | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | €1.85/l | €1.39/l | €1.28/l |
| Slovakia | €1.85/l | €1.52/l | €1.43/l |
| Hungary | €1.73/l | €1.49/l | €1.31/l |
Slovakia uses the euro and Hungary the forint, which can swing a lot – so the cheaper country changes more often than on Poland's western borders. Check current prices before you go.
Vignettes in Slovakia and Hungary
| Country | What you need | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia | electronic vignette for motorways and expressways | eznamka.sk |
| Hungary | electronic vignette (e-matrica), national or for selected counties | ematrica.nemzetiutdij.hu |
| Czechia (route from Warsaw) | electronic vignette | edalnice.cz |
All of them are linked to your number plate – nothing to stick on. A cheaper county vignette is enough if you only use the motorway in one or a few counties – check which ones your route crosses. Buy on the official sites; resellers add a fee.
How to pay less
- Fill up where it's cheapest – at 523 km, one full tank usually covers the drive one way.
- Share the car – split four ways, petrol from Kraków is €16.44 per person. See how to split fuel costs fairly.
- Avoid motorway stations – towns along the way are usually cheaper.
Work out the exact cost from your town, for example to Lake Balaton, in the Tankful calculator.