Well, El Paso, it’s official. While the rest of Texas is coasting along with cheaper gas, we're paying an average of $2.96 per gallon, nearly 22 cents higher than the state average. Congratulations to us for winning the “Highest Gas Prices in Texas” award—an honor no one wanted but everyone saw coming.

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Wichita Falls: Laughing All the Way to the Pump

While drivers in Wichita Falls smugly fill up for $2.61, we’re over here wondering if our city slogan should be changed to “El Paso: Where the Sun Shines Bright, and So Does the Gas Station Signboard.” Sure, the national average is $3.13, but why does it feel like we’re just one oil price fluctuation away from selling organs to commute?

AAA, http://tx-aaa.iprsoftware.com/news/aaa-texas-state-gas-price-average-rising-amid-fluctuating-crude-oil-prices
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AAA’s Tips: Thanks, I Guess

AAA has kindly provided some “tips” to help us save gas money. Among the gems:

  • Use credit card perks: Because nothing screams “financial health” like racking up credit card debt for 1.5% cashback.
  • Join gas station loyalty programs: Fantastic, now I have another card to lose in my wallet.
  • Combine errands: Oh, you mean the errands I already combine because I can’t afford two trips in this economy?
  • Inflate your tires: Sure, I’ll do that right after I’ve inflated my life savings.

Let’s not forget the wildcard suggestion of buying a warehouse membership for “cheaper gas.” Because who wouldn’t want to spend $60 annually for a Costco card to save $5 per month on fuel? Truly groundbreaking advice.

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El Paso's Silver Lining

At the end of the day, we can pat ourselves on the back for contributing to a state average that keeps Texas looking good on paper. After all, if it weren’t for our city’s steep prices, who would the rest of the state point to and say, “At least we’re not El Paso”?

So, whether you’re using cruise control, filling up on a Monday, or just considering biking everywhere, take solace in knowing we’re all in this overpriced boat together. And hey, at least our sunsets are free—for now.

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.

Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli

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