Gas Prices in New York City Today
New York City drivers are paying around $3.32 per gallon for regular unleaded as of mid-March 2026 — slightly below the national average, which surprises most people given NYC's reputation for high costs. The reason: New York City has relatively few gas stations serving a huge population, but those stations face intense competition from New Jersey just across the Hudson, where prices run 15–25 cents cheaper. That cross-state competitive pressure keeps NYC prices more reasonable than you'd expect.
Why NYC Gas Is Cheaper Than You'd Think
New Jersey has significantly lower gas taxes than New York — NJ charges about 42 cents per gallon in state taxes, while New York charges around 48 cents. The real advantage is that the NJ Turnpike corridor and Hudson County in Jersey City have extremely high-volume stations that compete aggressively for New York-area drivers. Anyone who can get to New Jersey to fill up usually does, and that competitive pressure keeps New York City prices from drifting too far above the metro average.
Manhattan itself has some of the highest station costs in the country — real estate to operate a gas station on the island is extremely expensive, and most stations are in outer boroughs and suburbs. If you're driving in Manhattan, you're likely already planning to fill up elsewhere.
Where to Find the Cheapest Gas in NYC
The outer boroughs and New Jersey are consistently your best options.
Search by ZIP code:
- Staten Island — 10314, 10306 — closest to NJ pricing, high station density along major corridors
- Queens / Jamaica / Flushing — 11435, 11355 — competitive suburban-style pricing
- Brooklyn / Flatbush / Canarsie — 11203, 11236 — lower prices vs Manhattan and North Brooklyn
- The Bronx / Co-op City — 10475, 10469 — suburban-style pricing at northern edges
- Avoid: Manhattan below 96th Street — highest prices in the metro by a significant margin
- An affordable tire pressure gauge can improve your fuel economy by up to 3% — one of the easiest ways to save at the pump.
- A phone mount makes it easy to navigate hands-free to the cheapest station nearby.
The New Jersey Option
If you live near the Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, or George Washington Bridge, filling up in New Jersey is the most reliable way to save money on gas in the NYC area. Jersey City, Hoboken, and Secaucus stations regularly run 20–30 cents below Manhattan prices. The tunnel toll offsets some savings if you're driving specifically to fill up, but if you're already crossing for another reason, it's worth topping off.
Costco and BJ's in the NYC Metro
Costco locations in Yonkers, Linden NJ, Hackensack NJ, and Brooklyn consistently have the cheapest gas in the metro area. BJ's Wholesale Club, which has a strong presence in the NYC suburbs, runs a similar aggressive fuel pricing strategy. Both require memberships but pay for themselves quickly for frequent drivers.
What Drives NYC Gas Prices
Beyond taxes, NYC gas prices are influenced by the New York Harbor gasoline benchmark — the pricing reference for the northeastern US fuel market. When Middle East tensions push crude prices higher, New York Harbor prices move quickly, which is why you've seen prices spike in March 2026 alongside the national trend.
The good news: New York's refinery access via the Colonial Pipeline and tanker deliveries to New York Harbor keep the metro reasonably supplied even in tight markets.
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