Los Angeles drivers can save up to $10 per fill by comparing nearby gas prices
Gasoline in the Los Angeles area hit $5.86 per gallon, prompting a quick guide on how shoppers can cut costs by checking stations within a mile.
The average price of regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach market climbed to $5.86 per gallon, a $1.20 increase from the previous year and 13 cents higher than a week earlier. Researchers visited multiple stations and discovered price differentials as large as 80 cents per gallon between neighboring pumps, which could save a driver roughly $9.60 on a 12-gallon fill. California’s Division of Petroleum Market Oversight reports that branded fuel typically costs about 31 cents more per gallon than unbranded fuel, a gap far wider than the 6-cent national average.
Examples included a Mobil pump at $5.99 versus a United Oil station at $5.39, and a Chevron at $6.09 versus an SK station at $5.29. While Costco’s Alhambra location sold gas at $5.33, a nearby SK station offered $5.29, showing that cheap fuel is not limited to wholesale clubs. State officials stress that all gasoline meets the same emissions and performance standards, so price, not brand, should drive consumer choice. The agency recommends shoppers compare prices within a short radius to capture savings and encourage competition among stations.
Why it matters
Comparing nearby gas prices can prevent drivers from overpaying in a market where fuel costs are at record highs.
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