Statewide average updated daily • Source: AAA
New York consistently ranks among the most expensive states for gasoline in the country, typically running 30 to 60 cents above the national average. High taxes are the primary driver, with New York City and its surrounding counties adding local fuel taxes on top of an already above-average state rate. Upstate New York tends to have lower prices than the metro area but still runs above the national average due to the state-level tax burden and distance from refining infrastructure.
New York’s combined state and local fuel taxes are among the highest in the country. The state excise tax sits around 25 cents per gallon, but New York City adds significant additional local taxes that push combined rates in the metro area well above 60 cents per gallon when all layers are counted. New York also applies its general sales tax to gasoline purchases in a way many states do not, adding another variable layer to the cost.
New York City’s market is particularly expensive because of the additional local tax burden, the high cost of operating a retail business in one of the world’s most expensive real estate markets, and the logistical complexity of supplying fuel to a dense urban environment where large tanker trucks face significant delivery constraints.
Upstate New York receives most of its fuel supply via pipeline from the Gulf Coast and from refineries in the Northeast, but the region’s distance from major refining centers adds transportation cost compared to states in the Southeast or Gulf Coast.
Did you know? Despite being a high-price state, over 55 percent of New York City households do not own a car — the highest rate of any major American city. New York State briefly suspended its gas tax in 2022 during record high prices, saving drivers roughly 16 cents per gallon. The New York Harbor area is one of the most important fuel distribution hubs on the entire East Coast.
Compare today’s average in New York with nearby states to understand regional price differences.
Learn more about what drives gas prices across the United States.
Crude oil prices are the biggest driver of what you pay at the pump. For U.S. and global crude oil production data updated from EIA figures, see Oil Production Live.