District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia averages $4.41/gallon (the 23rd-highest in the U.S.), per AAA. $0.07 below AAA's national average of $4.47 on 2026-09-22. State fuel taxes and fees are 35.3 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2025 edition, carried forward in this site's table). Federal gasoline tax adds 18.4 cents per gallon.
How District of Columbia got here
Weekly snapshots of AAA state averages, recorded by this site since July 6, 2026. AAA state averages.
Where the $4.41 goes
| Component | $/gallon | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly WTI crude proxy | $2.00 | 45.3% | EIA monthly WTI |
| Federal and District of Columbia fuel taxes | $0.54 | 12.2% | Tax Foundation, 2025 edition, carried forward in this site's table |
| Unallocated residual (after the monthly WTI crude proxy and taxes) | $1.87 | 42.5% | 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 District of Columbia is below the U.S. average
Taxes and supply costs
The District's figure is the 2025 edition carried forward and is not ranked against the states. 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. The amount after the crude proxy and taxes is the unallocated residual after crude and taxes.
What a gallon costs in work time
At District of Columbia's median hourly wage of $44.01 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a gallon of regular costs 6.0 minutes of work. BLS OEWS. Compare gasoline affordability.
State policies that show up at the pump
| Policy or supply base | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refining base | 0 operating refineries, 0 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01) | Source |
State government control
The District of Columbia has a mayor and a unicameral council and is excluded from the state political-control comparison.
Questions people ask
How does District of Columbia compare with the U.S. this week?
$0.07 below AAA's national average of $4.47 on 2026-09-22.
What share of the price is tax?
Combined state and federal taxes are 12.2% of regular (Tax Foundation, 2025 edition, carried forward in this site's table).
What does diesel cost in District of Columbia?
AAA diesel averages $6.51 as of September 22, 2026.
Compare: all states ranked · District of Columbia electricity rates · gasoline prices by country · refining · why gas prices are high.
Sources: AAA (pump prices), Tax Foundation, 2025 edition, carried forward in this site's table, EIA federal gasoline tax, EIA monthly WTI, EIA weekly retail gasoline, and BLS OEWS. The residual is computed, not attributed to components. See methodology.