Houston Gas Prices This Week: Why Houston Is One of the Cheapest U.S. Cities

This week’s EIA average for Houston, how it compares with the U.S. average and why gas on the Gulf Coast is so cheap.

Updated November 3, 2026

Houston is one of the ten cities in the EIA weekly gas price survey and regularly one of the cheapest. For the week of October 26, 2026, regular averaged $3.681 per gallon in Houston – about 59 cents below the national average of $4.269. History and the latest figures are on the Houston gas price history page.

Why gas is cheap in Houston

• Refineries next door: the Houston–Galveston and Beaumont–Port Arthur areas form one of the largest refining centers in the world, so transport costs are minimal.
• Low state tax: Texas charges 20 cents per gallon and has not raised it since 1991 – among the lowest state gas taxes (see gas tax by state).
• Competition: a huge number of stations and big-box fuel retailers keep margins tight.

When Houston prices jump

Being close to refineries also means exposure to their problems. Hurricanes on the Gulf Coast can shut refineries and pipelines for days, and prices in Houston – and across the eastern U.S. that depends on Gulf Coast fuel – can jump quickly. Refinery maintenance in spring and autumn can also cause short-lived spikes.

What it means for your wallet

A 15-gallon fill-up in Houston cost about $55 in late October 2026, about $9 less than at the national average and about $33 less than in Los Angeles.

Tips

• Compare stations along your commute – prices near freeway exits and in busy retail areas are often higher.
• On road trips from Houston, fill up before leaving Texas: neighboring states, especially to the west, are usually more expensive.
• Before a hurricane, avoid panic buying – it creates the shortages people fear.

Browse registered stations in our Texas section or compare Texas with other states on gas prices by state.

Frequently asked questions