The Fuel Work-Minutes Index: How Many Minutes Must You Work to Buy One Litre of Gasoline?
A global benchmark for fuel affordability – measured not in price alone, but in the time the average employee must work to earn enough for one litre of everyday gasoline.
Key Sections & Headings
1. The Index at a Glance: 9.53 Minutes per Litre on Average
Across 12 major cities, the average worker needs 9.53 minutes of net wages to afford a single litre of fuel – roughly one traffic-light-to-traffic-light commute.
2. New York vs. Casablanca: A 15.2x Affordability Gap
New York: 1.66 minutes per litre – the most affordable city in the baseline.
Casablanca: 25.22 minutes per litre – the least affordable.
The gap is 15.2 times – fuel affordability is not just about pump prices.
3. The Gulf Bloc: The Most Affordable Region at 2.26 Minutes per Litre
Doha (1.96), Dubai (2.19), and Riyadh (2.63) lead the way, making the Gulf the most fuel-affordable region in this study.
4. Cairo vs. Riyadh: An 8.8x Difference in Fuel Affordability
Cairo: 23.14 minutes per litre – ranked #11 of 12.
Riyadh: 2.63 minutes per litre – ranked #4.
Workers in Cairo need 8.8 times more work time than their counterparts in Riyadh to buy the same litre of fuel.
5. How the Index Is Calculated: Formula & Methodology
Hourly Wage = Net Monthly Salary ÷ 173.2 hours
Minutes per Litre = (Fuel Price ÷ Hourly Wage) × 60
The index uses the most commonly sold gasoline grade in each city.
6. Appendix: Full Q3 2026 Core Index Dataset
A complete table of all 12 cities, fuel grades, local prices, minutes per litre, hours per gallon, and confidence levels.
7. Key Findings Summary
New York is the most fuel-affordable city (1.66 min/L).
Casablanca is the least affordable (25.22 min/L).
Gulf bloc average: 2.26 min/L – the most affordable region.
Casablanca-to-New York gap: 15.2x.
Cairo ranks #11 at 23.14 min; Riyadh #4 at 2.63 min.
Sources:
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