- Driving in Hawaii costs an estimated $1,584 per year in fuel, ranking #41 among all states.
- The average driver in Hawaii travels 7,316 miles per year, 4,011 miles below the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $5.130/gal (EIA West Coast PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 34.4 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in Hawaii would pay roughly $951/year for electricity, saving about 40% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (23.7 MPG on-road fleet avg) | $1,584 | $1,949 |
| Regular gas price | $5.130/gal | $4.079/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 34.4¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 7,316 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 42.9¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #41 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in Hawaii averages $5.130 per gallon (EIA West Coast PADD regional average), which is $1.05 above the national average of $4.079. Hawaii ranks #4 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 Gas Taxes
Hawaii charges a state gasoline excise tax of 16.0 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in Hawaii pay a total of 34.4 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #50 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 7,316 miles per year and 23.7 MPG (on-road fleet average), the average driver in Hawaii pays roughly $106 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 16.0¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 34.4¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 7,316 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $106 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in Hawaii travels 7,316 miles per year, ranking #48 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 4,011 miles below the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024Hawaii has a total of 10.6 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 1,455,271 (86% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on Hawaii's average gas price and miles driven, here is the estimated annual fuel cost by vehicle type:
| Vehicle Type | MPG | Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Compact sedan | 28.2 | $1,331 |
| Midsize SUV | 19.6 | $1,915 |
| Pickup truck | 18.3 | $2,051 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in Hawaii takes 27.0 minutes one way. About 64.2% of workers drive alone to work, while 4.1% use public transit and 8.7% work from home.
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023| Commute Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Mean travel time to work | 27.0 min |
| Drove alone to work | 64.2% |
| Public transit | 4.1% |
| Worked from home | 8.7% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in Hawaii is 42.9 cents per kWh, which ranks #1 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in Hawaii costs roughly $0.130 per mile compared to $0.216 per mile for gasoline.
EIA Form 861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024; EPA average EV efficiency ~3.3 mi/kWh| Metric | Gasoline | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.216 | $0.130 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (7,316 mi) | $1,584 | $951 |
| Annual savings with EV | $633 (40%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how Hawaii's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $5.130 | 7,316 | $1,584 |
| California | $5.495 | 8,244 | $1,911 |
| Alaska | $5.130 | 7,503 | $1,624 |
09 Data Sources
- Federal Highway Administration: Table PS-1, Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024. fhwa.dot.gov
- Federal Highway Administration: Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax Rates. fhwa.dot.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices by State/Region, August 2026. eia.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Form EIA-861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024. eia.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023. data.census.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / Department of Energy: Fuel Economy Guide database, model years 2024–2025 (vehicle-type MPG); The 2025 Automotive Trends Report, EPA-420-R-26-001 (fleet trends). epa.gov
- DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 40, Table 4.3: on-road fuel economy of the light-duty vehicle fleet, 23.7 MPG (2020, the most recent year published). tedb.ornl.gov