California Gas Prices and Why They Are What They Are
Prices as of September 22, 2026, per AAA · Updated September 24, 2026
As of September 22, 2026, regular gasoline in California averages $6.19/gallon (the 1st-highest in the U.S.), per AAA. $1.71 above AAA's national average of $4.47 on 2026-09-22. State fuel taxes and fees are 73.6 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2026 edition). Federal gasoline tax adds 18.4 cents per gallon. In EIA's weekly survey, California regular was $6.003 in the week of 2026-09-21, 34.4% higher than the same week a year earlier (nearest prior week, 2025-09-15). Why gasoline is expensive in California.
How California got here
EIA weekly retail regular, all formulations; EMM_EPMR_PTE_SCA_DPG and EMM_EPMR_PTE_NUS_DPG; retrieved 2026-09-22, through 2026-09-21. Monthly means pair identical weekly dates; months with fewer than three paired weeks and the current month are excluded from the chart. EIA weekly retail gasoline.
Last twelve months: paired monthly means
| Month | California | U.S. | Gap | Paired weeks | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09 | $5.836 | $4.318 | $+1.518 | 3 | partial (3 paired weeks) |
| 2026-08 | $5.458 | $4.058 | $+1.400 | 5 | complete |
| 2026-07 | $5.304 | $3.932 | $+1.372 | 4 | complete |
| 2026-06 | $5.547 | $4.050 | $+1.497 | 5 | complete |
| 2026-05 | $5.949 | $4.479 | $+1.470 | 4 | complete |
| 2026-04 | $5.733 | $4.103 | $+1.631 | 4 | complete |
| 2026-03 | $5.262 | $3.638 | $+1.625 | 5 | complete |
| 2026-02 | $4.337 | $2.907 | $+1.430 | 4 | complete |
| 2026-01 | $4.007 | $2.808 | $+1.199 | 4 | complete |
| 2025-12 | $4.182 | $2.894 | $+1.288 | 5 | complete |
| 2025-11 | $4.454 | $3.050 | $+1.404 | 4 | complete |
| 2025-10 | $4.423 | $3.060 | $+1.363 | 4 | complete |
Highest weekly observation, nominal dollars: $6.271 on 2022-06-13; lowest weekly observation, nominal dollars: $1.100 on 2001-12-31.
Where the $6.19 goes
| Component | $/gallon | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly WTI crude proxy | $2.00 | 32.3% | EIA monthly WTI |
| Federal and California fuel taxes | $0.92 | 14.9% | Tax Foundation, 2026 edition |
| Unallocated residual (after the monthly WTI crude proxy and taxes) | $3.27 | 52.8% | computed; not attributed to components |
The crude-oil share of the price is set by a world market that every state's refiners buy from; the differences between states come from taxes, fuel specifications, and refining and distribution costs. EIA: factors affecting gasoline prices.
Why California is above the U.S. average
State fuel taxes
State fuel taxes and fees are 73.6 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2026 edition).
Refining base
12 operating refineries, 1,499,171 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01).
California fuel programs
Yes: California reformulated gasoline. Yes: Low Carbon Fuel Standard applies to transportation fuels. Yes: Cap-and-Invest covers transportation fuel suppliers. These program descriptions do not assign a cents-per-gallon cost. Source. Source. Source.
What a gallon costs in work time
At California's median hourly wage of $28.00 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a gallon of regular costs 13.3 minutes of work. BLS OEWS. Compare gasoline affordability.
State policies that show up at the pump
| Policy or supply base | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refining base | 12 operating refineries, 1,499,171 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01) | Source |
| State-specific fuel blend | Yes: California reformulated gasoline | Source |
| Low Carbon Fuel Standard | Yes: Low Carbon Fuel Standard applies to transportation fuels | Source |
| Carbon program on motor fuel | Yes: Cap-and-Invest covers transportation fuel suppliers | Source |
State government control
| Control in 2026 | Unified Democratic |
| Years of unified Democratic control, 2001–2026 | 19 |
| Years of unified Republican control | 0 |
| Years of split government | 7 |
Party control by year from Ballotpedia, compiled 2026-09-08; counts computed at build. Ballotpedia.
Questions people ask
How does regular compare with the national average?
$1.71 above AAA's national average of $4.47 on 2026-09-22.
How much is state gasoline tax?
State fuel taxes and fees are 73.6 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2026 edition).
Does the state have oil refineries?
12 operating refineries, 1,499,171 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01).
What fuel rules or supply routes matter here?
Yes: California reformulated gasoline. Yes: Low Carbon Fuel Standard applies to transportation fuels. Yes: Cap-and-Invest covers transportation fuel suppliers. These program descriptions do not assign a cents-per-gallon cost. Source. Source. Source.
What does a gallon cost in work time?
At California's median hourly wage of $28.00 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a gallon of regular costs 13.3 minutes of work.
Compare: all states ranked · California electricity rates · gasoline prices by country · refining · why gas prices are high.
Sources: AAA (pump prices), Tax Foundation, 2026 edition, EIA federal gasoline tax, EIA monthly WTI, EIA weekly retail gasoline, and BLS OEWS. The residual is computed, not attributed to components. See methodology.