Edmonton gas prices expected to stay low after holidays: expert

Lower gas prices are back in Alberta, and those prices may be sticking around after the holidays.

Edmonton gas stations, such as Costco, UFA, and Esso, are under $1.05 as of 2 p.m. Monday, according to GasBuddy.com.

Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, says it’s a similar story across the province.

“Pause from the federal carbon tax is really what’s enabled some of these ultra-low prices across not only Alberta, but much of Canada,” he explained.

Alberta drivers are heading into 2026 with the cheapest gas in Canada, with an average of $1.11 a litre. Calgary is sitting at $1.06, while Edmonton is at $1.10.

Additionally, unlike some of the slightly lower prices that appear for very brief periods, De Haan says they aren’t going out with the holidays.

“I expect these relatively low prices to remain through most of the winter,” he said. “But know that seasonally, prices will likely start to go up as we get closer to warmer weather.”

The low prices are especially helpful if you drive Uber for a living, like Somar Mohammed, who fills up daily.

“Normally, I pay like $30 every day for my eight-hour working shift, so now I’m paying like $20-22, which is good for me,” he told CityNews.

He adds it’s particularly beneficial during the holiday season because more people need rides.

“Lots of people are coming back from vacations and spending time with family here. So yeah … more money, more visitors, more coming,” he said.

Another gas purchaser, Ilya West, acknowledges that low gas prices could negatively impact the country’s economy in the long term, but is still enjoying the short-term relief.

“This case, at least, you can feel it. Maybe just illusion, but at least the people can be happy,” he said.

“Maybe it’s not good for country, but it’s good for people. I know this looks like paradox, but in a lot of cases, something that’s good for country not good for people, like regular citizens.”

The last time prices were this low was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, De Haan said, saying it lasted several months.

And while that might signal economic instability to some buyers, De Haan says not to hit the panic button just yet.

“It was a big drop in gasoline demand that sparked the major impacts brought on by the pandemic,” he explained.

“This time around, however, the falling in low gas prices is not yet looking like an indicator of economic activity; it’s simply just a case of rising gasoline and oil supply as OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) has increased production, coupled with weaker seasonal demand.”

British Columbia to the west is $1.35 a litre on average, Ontario currently sits at $1.19, and Quebec has the highest rate at $1.39 a litre.