In early March of 2022, gas prices reached record highs (not adjusted for inflation), topping the July 17, 2008 record of $4.11 per gallon of regular. With inflation on the rise, this extra financial burden is an unwelcome addition to the existing economic anxieties that many Americans are experiencing.
With President Biden’s announcement of the release of a million barrels of oil daily from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve comes the possibility that consumers may see some relief at the pump in the coming weeks. In addition, many states have proposed implementing “gas tax holidays” to reduce fuel prices. These plans include limiting fuel taxes that usually fund highway projects and public transit, as well as issuing cash rebates to households with registered vehicles and offering gas cards to low-income residents. (These are the states with the highest gas tax.)
The rising prices are certainly hitting some consumers harder than others. For those who rely on public transit, the hype about skyrocketing gas prices may mean very little, but for those who commute long distances by car or truck, the impact can be much greater. To determine how much of a driver’s monthly income is spent on gas in each state, 24/7Tempo consulted a ranking by the financial information site FinanceBuzz that used U.S. Department of Transportation data from January of 2022. The average number of vehicle miles traveled per person per state, as well as median annual incomes are from the U.S. Census Bureau. Gas prices are from American Automobile Association data collected in March 2022.
The average car driver in the U.S. spends 2.24% of their monthly income on gas, while the average pickup truck or SUV driver spends about 3.12%. The three states where drivers spend the largest percentage of their monthly income on gas are Alabama, Wyoming, and Mississippi, in descending order. While gas prices are relatively high in these three states, a larger factor in their ranking is travel miles. These are the only states in which people drive over 1,000 miles a month on average. (Here are the American cities with the least amount of time lost to traffic.)
Click here to see the states where drivers spend the most on gas
Out of the 10 states where people spend the highest percentage of their income on gas, the majority are in the South, and all but one have relatively lower incomes and higher monthly mileage than average – the exception being Wyoming, which has the 21st highest income in addition to an average driving distance of 1,267 miles per month.
Of the 10 states where people spend the lowest percentage of their income on gas, all have relatively high incomes and relatively low monthly mileage. They are mostly in the Mid-Atlantic and New England, where states are generally much smaller and more urban – meaning that residents don’t need to drive nearly as many miles to get their basic needs met. One exception is Alaska, which has a huge land mass that is largely made up of uninhabited wilderness where residents rarely travel.
50. New York
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 1.38%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 1.92% – the lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,709 – 6th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.14 – 22nd highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 397 – the lowest
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49. Alaska
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 1.60%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 2.23% – 2nd lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,673 – 7th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.02 – 20th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 472 – 2nd lowest
48. Rhode Island
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 1.79%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 2.48% – 3rd lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,490 – 12th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.22 – 16th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 481 – 3rd lowest
47. New Jersey
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 1.84%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 2.56% – 4th lowest
> Median monthly income: $5,197 – 2nd highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.19 – 19th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 580 – 6th lowest
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46. Massachusetts
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 1.98%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 2.75% – 5th lowest
> Median monthly income: $5,381 – the highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.19 – 19th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 644 – 12th lowest
45. Maryland
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 1.99%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 2.77% – 6th lowest
> Median monthly income: $5,145 – 4th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.80 – 4th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 682 – 15th lowest
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44. Washington
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.05%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 2.85% – 7th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,870 – 5th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.73 – 4th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 534 – 5th lowest
43. Pennsylvania
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.12%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 2.95% – 8th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,279 – 16th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.31 – 14th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 532 – 4th lowest
42. Connecticut
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.24%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.11% – 9th lowest
> Median monthly income: $5,197 – 2nd highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.32 – 13th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 682 – 14th lowest
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41. New Hampshire
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.28%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.16% – 10th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,591 – 8th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.87 – 6th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 683 – 16th lowest
40. Illinois
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.34%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.25% – 11th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,425 – 14th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.39 – 10th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 597 – 7th lowest
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39. Minnesota
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.39%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.32% – 12th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,506 – 11th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.92 – 11th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 694 – 21st lowest
38. Colorado
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.43%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.38% – 13th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,440 – 13th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.97 – 16th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 687 – 19th lowest
37. Delaware
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.47%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.43% – 14th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,316 – 15th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.38 – 11th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 616 – 9th lowest
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36. Virginia
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.51%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.49% – 15th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,547 – 9th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.21 – 17th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 685 – 17th lowest
34. Michigan
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.70%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.75% – 17th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,161 – 19th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.14 – 22nd highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 686 – 18th lowest
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34. Ohio
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.70%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.75% – 17th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,032 – 25th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4 – 18th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 688 – 20th lowest
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32. Oregon
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.72%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.78% – 19th lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,225 – 17th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.72 – 5th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 616 – 10th lowest
32. West Virginia
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.72%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.78% – 19th lowest
> Median monthly income: $3,535 – 4th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.94 – 13th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 617 – 11th lowest
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31. Kansas
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.85%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 3.96% – 20th lowest
> Median monthly income: $3,876 – 21st lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.77 – 2nd lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 741 – 25th lowest
30. Hawaii
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.90%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.03% – 21st lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,198 – 18th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $5.09 – 3rd highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 605 – 8th lowest
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29. Iowa
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.93%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.08% – 22nd lowest
> Median monthly income: $3,991 – 25th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.16 – 21st highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 711 – 23rd lowest
28. Wisconsin
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.95%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.10% – 23rd lowest
> Median monthly income: $4,117 – 24th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.09 – 25th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 752 – 24th highest
27. Nevada
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 2.96%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.11% – 24th lowest
> Median monthly income: $3,707 – 15th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.90 – 9th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 711 – 23rd lowest
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26. Texas
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.06%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.25% – 25th lowest
> Median monthly income: $3,950 – 24th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.89 – 8th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 787 – 22nd highest
25. Maine
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.13%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.35% – 25th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,940 – 23rd lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.25 – 15th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 733 – 24th lowest
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24. Idaho
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.16%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.39% – 24th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,623 – 9th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.88 – 7th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 745 – 25th highest
23. Nebraska
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.18%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.43% – 23rd highest
> Median monthly income: $3,930 – 22nd lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.06 – 23rd lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 781 – 23rd highest
22. Arizona
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.22%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.48% – 22nd highest
> Median monthly income: $3,849 – 19th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.82 – 5th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 821 – 16th highest
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21. Vermont
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.28%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.56% – 21st highest
> Median monthly income: $4,136 – 23rd highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.09 – 25th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 840 – 14th highest
19. California
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.35%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.66% – 19th highest
> Median monthly income: $4,510 – 10th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $5.88 – the highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 651 – 13th lowest
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19. North Dakota
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.35%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.66% – 19th highest
> Median monthly income: $4,161 – 19th highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.35 – 12th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 811 – 18th highest
18. Utah
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.39%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.71% – 18th highest
> Median monthly income: $4,141 – 22nd highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.43 – 9th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 801 – 19th highest
17. Kentucky
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.42%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.75% – 17th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,653 – 11th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.97 – 16th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 796 – 20th highest
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16. South Dakota
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.46%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 4.81% – 16th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,665 – 13th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.93 – 12th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 815 – 17th highest
15. Montana
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.65%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 5.08% – 15th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,659 – 12th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.05 – 22nd lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 835 – 15th highest
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14. Oklahoma
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.67%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 5.10% – 14th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,536 – 5th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.79 – 3rd lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 867 – 13th highest
13. Georgia
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.80%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 5.28% – 13th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,868 – 20th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.99 – 17th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 931 – 7th highest
12. Louisiana
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.85%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 5.35% – 12th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,750 – 16th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.04 – 21st lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 905 – 8th highest
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10. South Carolina
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.86%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 5.36% – 10th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,581 – 7th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.95 – 14th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 885 – 10th highest
10. Tennessee
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.86%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 5.36% – 10th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,620 – 8th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.02 – 20th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 878 – 11th highest
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9. Missouri
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 3.94%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 5.48% – 9th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,778 – 17th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.92 – 11th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 961 – 5th highest
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8. Indiana
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 4.16%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 5.78% – 8th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,846 – 18th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.50 – 8th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 899 – 9th highest
7. Florida
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 4.29%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 5.96% – 7th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,537 – 6th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.12 – 24th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 932 – 6th highest
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6. North Carolina
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 4.36%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 6.06% – 6th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,707 – 15th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $5.18 – 2nd highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 789 – 21st highest
5. New Mexico
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 4.57%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 6.36% – 5th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,519 – 3rd lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.20 – 18th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 969 – 4th highest
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4. Arkansas
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 4.70%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 6.54% – 4th highest
> Median monthly income: $3,421 – 2nd lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.67 – 7th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 872 – 12th highest
3. Mississippi
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 4.83%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 6.71% – 3rd highest
> Median monthly income: $3,354 – the lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $3.77 – 2nd lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 1,088.4 – 3rd highest
2. Wyoming
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 4.91%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 6.82% – 2nd highest
> Median monthly income: $4,151 – 21st highest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.07 – 24th lowest
> Average miles traveled per month: 1,267 – the highest
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1. Alabama
> Pct. monthly income car drivers spend on gas: 5.55%
> Pct. monthly income truck/SUV drivers spend on gas: 7.71% – the highest
> Median monthly income: $3,652 – 10th lowest
> Gas cost per gallon: $4.71 – 6th highest
> Average miles traveled per month: 1,088 – 2nd highest
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