10 States Where Drivers Spend the Least on Gas

When you head to the gas station, you never really know how much money you'll pay per gallon. Gas prices are notoriously volatile. FinanceBuzz conducted a study on the amount drivers spend on gas each month, and in 2025, the average price in the United States is approximately $3.29 per gallon, compared to a peak of $4.67 in 2022.

That kind of unpredictability makes filling up stressful, but in some states, some drivers are managing to keep more cash in their wallets. Our state-by-state analysis reveals where residents spend the lowest percentage of their income on gasoline.

Do you live in one of these 10 states?

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Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 1.91%

Minnesota rounds out the top 10 because its residents pay high gas taxes and drive long distances, at least compared to those in other states.

At $0.319 per gallon, Minnesota has the 22nd-highest gas tax in the nation. Minnesotans drive approximately 794 miles per month, which is still relatively low compared to the average in most states.

Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 1.81%

New Hampshire highlights a trend that continues throughout this list. The state has a high monthly median income ($5,540), so people tend to spend a lower percentage of their earnings on gas.

New Hampshire residents also don't drive very long distances. They only cover about 754 miles per month on average. They do pay high gas taxes ($0.2383 per gallon), though, so don't consider them too lucky.

Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 1.81%

Maryland has the seventh-highest gas tax in the country ($0.4619 per gallon). So, why do the people of Maryland spend a lower percentage of their income on gas?

It's mainly because the state has a high monthly median income ($5,924). Even if people spend a little more money on gas, they come out ahead because they also tend to have higher incomes.

Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 1.80%

Pennsylvania is a bit of an outlier here. The monthly median income ($5,015) isn't anything special, but drivers pay the fourth-highest gas tax in the country ($0.587).

Pennsylvanians don't tend to drive very far, though. They average about 634 miles per month, which is lower than the average for drivers in most states.

Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 1.70%

Connecticut drivers pay relatively low gas taxes. At $0.25 per gallon, it's the 35th-lowest rate in the country. People in Connecticut also have much higher-than-average monthly median incomes ($5,942).

Those two factors matter a lot when it comes to the percentage of income drivers spend on gas.

Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 1.56%

New Jersey has the eighth-highest gas tax in the U.S. ($0.4495), so how did it end up on this list? For starters, it has one of the highest monthly median incomes ($5,942) in the country. Only Maryland has a higher median income.

New Jersey residents also don't drive all that far. At 696 miles per month, they're in the middle of the pack.

Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 1.47%

With a very high monthly median income ($6,394), the average resident of Massachusetts has a little money to burn. The state also enjoys a relatively low tax on gasoline ($0.2747 per gallon).

When you have a high income and low taxes, a fairly low percentage of your money goes to gasoline.

Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 1.38%

Rhode Island drivers benefit from the state's small size. On average, they only cover 561 miles per month.

The state also has a relatively high monthly median income of $5,463. A high income level and short driving distances equal big savings.

Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 1.22%

New York residents drive a modest 483 miles a month. They also have relatively high monthly median incomes ($5,551).

What really matters is that approximately 45% of the state's population lives in New York City, and around 31.15% of those nearly 9 million residents use public transit.

Percent of income drivers spend on gas: 0.77%

Hello, District of Columbia! People who live in the nation's capital pay the lowest percentage of their income on gas.

It's easy to see why. On average, people who live in Washington, D.C., drive only 440 miles per month. A great public transit system really pays off, and the fact that the city has the country's longest commute time (33.4 minutes, on average) also helps. You're on the road for a long time, but you don't travel that many miles.

Who wants to sit in that traffic when it's so much easier to take the metro?

Taxes, distance, income, and other factors can all play a significant role in how much money you spend on gas for your vehicle. Of course, you're not going to move just to save a few bucks at the pump. But you can still cut costs by comparing prices, using gas rewards, keeping your car well-maintained, and driving shorter distances — all of which are smart money moves if you own a car.