The Real Cost
Week of September 21, 2026 · San Jose, CA
2024 Kia Forte
14 gal tank · 26 MPG
$71–$84
typical fill → full tank · 14 galAt $6.00/gal, this tank gets you about 364 miles.
Source: EIA · Updated September 21, 2026
12-week state trend
+$0.83 over 12 wk
Local context
San Jose runs at $6.00/gal this week — about 34.1% above the U.S. average of $4.48. At this price the 2024 Kia Forte's 26 MPG returns roughly 4.3 miles per dollar (38.5 gallons per 1,000 miles).
At a typical 12,000 miles a year — the U.S. driving average — a San Jose driver spends about $2,771 on gas in this car (use the calculator for your own mileage). For the same car, $2,771 in California (priciest reporting state at $6.00/gal) vs. $1,813 in Texas ($3.93/gal). $957 swing.
By the numbers
Fill cost
$71–$84
typical → full · 364 mi/tank
Per gallon
$6.00
EIA CA state weekly
Monthly · 12k mi/yr
$230.88
38.5 gal
Annual · 12k mi/yr
$2771
462 gal
The math
Why it costs what it costs.
- Fill cost = 14 gal × $6.00/gal = $84.04
- Miles per tank = 14 × 26 = 364
- Annual @ 12,000 mi (typical) = 12,000 ÷ 26 × $6.00 = $2771
Want to customize miles per year or override the pump price you saw? Use the full calculator.