Are gas prices in Quebec going down? Yes, for now. The Régie de l'énergie says the Quebec average for regular gas was 192.3 cents a litre in the week of October 12. That is 3 cents less than the week before. In Montréal, the price fell again from Monday to Wednesday this week. Diesel is going the other way.
Key takeaways
- Gas prices in Quebec fell 3.0 cents a litre in the week of October 12, says the Régie de l'énergie.
- In Montréal, regular gas went from 193.0 cents on Monday to 189.4 cents on Wednesday, October 21.
- The wholesale price of regular gas in Montréal fell from 142.0 to 138.0 cents a litre.
- The wholesale price of diesel went up from 224.7 to 235.4 cents a litre.
- Statistics Canada says the price of gas is still 27.8% higher than a year ago, La Presse reports.
Why "prix" is a hot search in Quebec right now
People in Quebec are typing "prix" into Google a lot this week. Most of it is about money at the pump, in my view. On October 19, Statistics Canada said inflation rose to 3.1% in September. La Presse reports the main reason was the price of gas. Then prices at the pump started to drop. When gas moves this much, drivers look it up.
Gas prices in Quebec this week
These numbers come from the Régie de l'énergie, the Quebec body that tracks pump prices. They are the average posted price of regular gas, in cents a litre, for the week of October 19.
| Region | Monday Oct 19 | Tuesday Oct 20 | Wednesday Oct 21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montréal | 193.0 | 191.9 | 189.4 |
| Laval | 192.9 | 192.4 | 188.8 |
| Capitale-Nationale (Québec City) | 191.7 | 190.1 | 189.7 |
| Montérégie | 185.6 | 186.5 | 184.7 |
| Outaouais | 185.1 | 184.8 | 181.3 |
| Saguenay and Lac-Saint-Jean | 181.1 | 178.1 | 174.8 |
| Gaspésie and Îles-de-la-Madeleine | 198.2 | 197.1 | 196.0 |
| Nord-du-Québec (Jamésie) | 210.0 | 210.0 | 209.4 |
The Thursday and Friday numbers were not out yet when we wrote this.
The gap from one region to the next is big. On Wednesday, Saguenay was at 174.8 cents and Jamésie was at 209.4 cents. On a 50 litre fill, that is about $17 more up north.
Why gas prices in Quebec are going down
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Gas pump in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, 2016.
The main reason is the price that gas stations pay for their fuel. The Régie calls it the "rack" price in Montréal. It fell from 142.0 cents in the week of October 5 to 138.0 cents for the week of October 19.
The Régie also adds up the lowest rack price, transport and taxes. For the week of October 19, that comes to 182.2 cents a litre for Quebec. The pump price is still above that. So there may be a bit more room for prices to fall, if the wholesale price holds.
I have watched pump prices for more than 10 years. From what I have seen, prices tend to go up fast and come down slowly. A drop of a few cents a week is normal. Do not expect a big fall in one day.
Why the price of gas still feels high
The drop this week is small next to the past year. Statistics Canada says gas cost 27.8% more in September than a year before, La Presse reports. Crude oil prices in September were at their highest level since May.
The Régie says the Quebec average was 194.1 cents in September. That was 8.1 cents more than in August.
There is one more thing. The federal excise tax on gas and diesel was paused from April 20 to September 7, 2026, the Régie notes. That pause is over, so that tax is back in the price.
Diesel price: going the other way
If you drive a diesel pickup or SUV, the news is not as good. The Régie's rack price for diesel went from 224.7 cents to 235.4 cents a litre in one week. That is a jump of more than 10 cents. When the wholesale price climbs like that, the pump price often follows.
Heating oil is up too. Statistics Canada says it cost 57.8% more than a year ago, La Presse reports.
What it costs to fill up
Here is a simple way to see it. A compact SUV often has a tank of about 50 litres.
| Price per litre | Cost for 50 litres |
|---|---|
| 193.0 cents (Montréal, Monday) | $96.50 |
| 189.4 cents (Montréal, Wednesday) | $94.70 |
| 174.8 cents (Saguenay, Wednesday) | $87.40 |
So the drop this week saves about $1.80 a fill in Montréal. That is not much. How much fuel your car uses matters more. Our guide on what your car costs per 100 km shows how to work it out.
How to pay less at the pump
Photo: Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Petro-Canada station in Québec City, 2017.
These tips have saved me money for years:
- Check prices before you go. The Régie posts them on its website.
- Fill up mid-week if you can. In Montréal, the lowest day this week so far was Wednesday.
- Do not drive far to save one cent. A 10 km trip can cost more than you save.
- Keep your tires at the right pressure, more so now that it is getting cold.
- Slow down on the highway. Speed burns fuel fast.
Our list of ways to lower your fuel use has more ideas. Winter also adds to the bill. Read how cold weather changes fuel and EV use before the first big freeze.
If you are shopping for a car, look at the cars with the lowest fuel use in Canada. Thinking about an EV? Check the EV rebates by province first. The federal rebate gets smaller on January 1, 2027.
My take
This week is good news for people who buy regular gas in Quebec. But it is a small drop after a year of high prices. Diesel drivers should brace for the pump price to rise. I would not plan a budget around gas under 180 cents in Montréal yet. Watch the Régie's numbers each week. They tell you where things are going before the sign at your corner station does.
FAQ
What is the price of gas in Quebec this week?
The Régie de l'énergie says the Quebec average for regular gas was 192.3 cents a litre in the week of October 12. In Montréal, it was 189.4 cents on Wednesday, October 21.
Why are gas prices going down in Quebec?
The wholesale (rack) price of regular gas in Montréal fell from 142.0 to 138.0 cents a litre, the Régie says. Stations pay less for their fuel, so pump prices come down.
Where is gas cheapest in Quebec?
On October 21, Saguenay and Lac-Saint-Jean had the lowest average of all regions, at 174.8 cents a litre. Nord-du-Québec (Jamésie) was the highest at 209.4 cents.
Is the price of diesel going down too?
No. The Régie's rack price for diesel rose from 224.7 to 235.4 cents a litre in one week. Pump prices for diesel may go up.
Why is gas more expensive than last year?
Statistics Canada says gas cost 27.8% more in September than a year earlier, La Presse reports. Crude oil prices were at their highest since May.
Sources
- Régie de l'énergie du Québec, "Prix des produits pétroliers" (daily averages, week of October 19, 2026): https://www.regie-energie.qc.ca/fr/prix-produits-petroliers
- Régie de l'énergie du Québec, "Relevé quotidien des prix, essence ordinaire" (week of October 19 to 23, 2026): https://www.regie-energie.qc.ca/storage/app/media/consommateurs/informations-pratiques/prix-petrole/publications/Publications-quotidiennes/releve-quotidien/rqe.pdf
- Régie de l'énergie du Québec, weekly bulletin, week of October 12, 2026, vol. 29 no. 41 (published October 16, 2026): https://www.regie-energie.qc.ca/storage/app/media/consommateurs/informations-pratiques/prix-petrole/publications/Publications-hebdomadaires/Bulletin/bulletin.pdf
- La Presse, "L'inflation continue de grimper" (October 19, 2026), citing Statistics Canada: https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/economie/2026-10-19/canada/l-inflation-continue-de-grimper.php