Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
On December 17, 2025, a driver in McAllen, Texas, reported paying well below the national average for gasoline, offering a real-world snapshot of how fuel prices in Texas compare with the rest of the country. The driver said, “I was low on gasoline and needed 21 gallons to fill up as soon as possible,” and turned to the GasBuddy.com application to locate the cheapest option in the city.
Using the app, the driver found gasoline priced at $2.25 per gallon. “Well, great news: I filled up my tank for $2.25 a gallon, for a total of $47.76,” the driver said. Motorists widely use GasBuddy to compare fuel prices at nearby stations, relying on reported prices to help drivers save money.
The driver also documented the purchase with an image of the gas station, calling it “proof that gas prices are coming down.” While prices can vary by neighborhood and by day, the McAllen fill-up stands out when compared with average gasoline prices across many other states on the same date.
According to the most recent AAA data as of December 17, 2025, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was significantly higher in several parts of the country. Vermont averaged about $3.08 per gallon. New Jersey and New Hampshire were both around $2.91. Delaware averaged roughly $2.78, while Maryland was about $2.86. In the Northeast, Rhode Island averaged $2.94, Massachusetts $2.99, and Connecticut $3.01. The District of Columbia stood higher at about $3.18 per gallon. Hawaii recorded the highest price among the states listed, at approximately $4.44 per gallon.
Nationally, the average price for regular gasoline was about $2.905 per gallon on December 17, 2025. Some states, including Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and Vermont, were well above that level. In contrast, others, such as Delaware and Maryland, were below it but still higher than the McAllen price reported by the Texas driver.
Energy analysts and industry groups have long noted that gasoline prices “vary widely largely due to differences in state fuel taxes, local regulations, and supply chains.” Texas, which is a major oil-producing state with relatively low fuel taxes, often posts prices below the national average.
Reflecting on the comparison, the driver summed up the experience in plain terms: “So, if your state is not offering low gasoline prices, move to Texas.” While the remark was made lightly, the numbers from December 17 show that, at least for McAllen motorists, Texas delivered some of the cheapest gasoline available in the country today.
