The spike in gasoline prices is once again raising the question for San Diego-area drivers: Is it worth it to fill up in Tijuana?
Regular unleaded gasoline south of the border, labeled Magna, costs about $3.10 per gallon (8.92 pesos per liter), premium costs $3.54 per gallon (10.18 pesos per liter); and diesel costs $3.13 a gallon (9.01 pesos per liter), according to the gasoline station owners' association of Tijuana.
In San Diego County, the average price of regular unleaded is $3.50, premium $3.70 and diesel $3.87, the highest level in 38 months, according to the Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN).
In Mexico, gasoline is sold by the oil monopoly Pemex, whose prices are controlled by the federal government.
The prices increased a fraction of a peso on Feb. 12 for the second time this year and are scheduled to continue to creep up in the next few months on the second Saturday of the month in response to world oil prices, according to government.
These increases have led to higher prices of some basic products and some public transportation fares in Mexico.
Charles Langley, an analyst with UCAN, warned that the San Diego region was starting the year with very high gasoline prices. "That's a problem because that sets the pace for the rest of the year."
Beyond price, San Diego-area drivers considering filling up in Tijuana have to weigh at least a couple of factors:
the time it may take them to return to the United States, given that waiting times at the border can stretch to two hours or longer, depending on day and time; and Mexican gasoline is refined to standards different than those of California.
San Diego gas prices
The Utility Consumers' Action Network tracks the average price of gasoline in San Diego County: ucan.org
