The Real Cost
Week of September 21, 2026 · Mesa, AZ
2026 Nissan Altima
16.2 gal tank · 28 MPG · manufacturer spec
$70–$83
typical fill → full tank · 16.2 galAt $5.11/gal, this tank gets you about 454 miles.
Source: EIA · Updated September 21, 2026
12-week state trend · padd proxy
+$0.77 over 12 wk
Local context
Mesa runs at $5.11/gal this week — about 14.0% above the U.S. average of $4.48. At this price the 2026 Nissan Altima's 28 MPG returns roughly 5.5 miles per dollar (35.7 gallons per 1,000 miles).
At a typical 12,000 miles a year — the U.S. driving average — a Mesa driver spends about $2,188 on gas in this car (use the calculator for your own mileage). For the same car, $2,573 in California (priciest reporting state at $6.00/gal) vs. $1,684 in Texas ($3.93/gal). $889 swing.
By the numbers
Fill cost
$70–$83
typical → full · 454 mi/tank
Per gallon
$5.11
EIA West Coast excl. California weekly
Monthly · 12k mi/yr
$182.36
35.7 gal
Annual · 12k mi/yr
$2188
429 gal
The math
Why it costs what it costs.
- Fill cost = 16.2 gal × $5.11/gal = $82.72
- Miles per tank = 16.2 × 28 = 454
- Annual @ 12,000 mi (typical) = 12,000 ÷ 28 × $5.11 = $2188
Want to customize miles per year or override the pump price you saw? Use the full calculator.