Regular gasoline cost $6.227 a gallon in California and $3.874 in Texas in EIA’s survey for the week of October 5, 2026. For one car driven 12,000 miles a year at 25 mpg, that is $2,989 a year in Los Angeles and $1,860 in Houston, a $1,129 difference. For a two-car household the gap doubles to $2,259. The relocation budget planner prices fuel for the metro you choose, next to rent, taxes and food.
Gasoline prices by metro (week of October 5, 2026)
Source: EIA Weekly Retail Gasoline and Diesel Prices, regular grade including taxes, collected Monday October 5 and released October 6, 2026. Metros in states without a weekly EIA series use their region’s price.
| Metro | $ / gal | Price series | 12,000 mi at 25 mpg | 15,000 mi at 25 mpg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $6.227 | California | $2,989 | $3,736 |
| Seattle, WA | $5.424 | Washington | $2,604 | $3,254 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $5.116 | West Coast less California | $2,456 | $3,070 |
| New York, NY | $4.380 | New York | $2,102 | $2,628 |
| Boston, MA | $4.302 | Massachusetts | $2,065 | $2,581 |
| Chicago, IL | $4.109 | Midwest | $1,972 | $2,465 |
| Nashville, TN | $4.109 | Midwest | $1,972 | $2,465 |
| Denver, CO | $4.020 | Colorado | $1,930 | $2,412 |
| Miami, FL | $3.970 | Florida | $1,906 | $2,382 |
| Atlanta, GA | $3.959 | Lower Atlantic | $1,900 | $2,375 |
| Dallas, TX | $3.874 | Texas | $1,860 | $2,324 |
| Houston, TX | $3.874 | Texas | $1,860 | $2,324 |
US average: $4.354 a gallon. Other regional prices that week: Gulf Coast $3.911, Rocky Mountain $4.417, New England $4.343, Central Atlantic $4.363.
Why the West Coast pays more
California’s weekly price was $1.87 above the US average, and the rest of the West Coast was $0.76 above it. EIA explains that relatively few refineries make California’s unique, more stringent gasoline blend. California’s gas tax is also higher than most states’, and replacement supply from other regions can take a long time to arrive (EIA, Gasoline explained). Phoenix uses the “West Coast less California” series because EIA groups Arizona with the West Coast region and publishes no Arizona weekly price.
Calculating your annual fuel cost
annual fuel cost = miles per car × cars ÷ mpg × $ per gallon
- Two cars, 12,000 miles each, 25 mpg, Houston: 24,000 ÷ 25 × $3.874 = $3,719
- Two cars, same driving, Los Angeles: 24,000 ÷ 25 × $6.227 = $5,978
- One car at 35 mpg in Los Angeles: 12,000 ÷ 35 × $6.227 = $2,135
Fuel economy matters as much as the city. Going from 25 to 35 mpg saves $854 a year in Los Angeles, almost as much as moving from LA prices to Houston prices at 25 mpg.
Car costs beyond gasoline
MoveMath prices only the gasoline line, because that is the only car cost with an official, place-by-place government source. The rest depend on your vehicle, record and ZIP code:
| Cost | How to get your number |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Get quotes at your new address. Premiums change by state and ZIP code. |
| Registration and fees | Check the new state’s motor-vehicle agency. Some states charge by value or weight. |
| Maintenance and tires | Use your car’s service history or the maker’s schedule. |
| Loan or lease payment | Use your actual payment. |
| Parking and tolls | Check building and workplace parking rates in the new city. |
Add these as a monthly amount in the “Fixed costs / month” field of the relocation budget planner. Then move insurance and parking up or down for each city you compare.
Do you need a car at all?
In a dense, transit-rich city, a household may go car-free or keep one car instead of two. Setting cars to 0 removes the fuel line. A New Yorker with no car avoids $2,102 a year of fuel at the default mileage, but transit fares are not modeled, so add your monthly pass as a fixed cost. In most Sun Belt metros, plan on a car per working adult unless your commute is on a frequent transit line.
Gas prices change every week
These prices are for the week of October 5, 2026. Pump prices can move quickly when crude oil or refinery output changes, so check EIA’s latest weekly table for your state or region before you finalize a budget. The methodology page shows the date of the prices in MoveMath’s data.
See Los Angeles cost of living and Houston cost of living for full budgets including fuel.