- Driving in Kansas costs an estimated $1,787 per year in fuel, ranking #29 among all states.
- The average driver in Kansas travels 10,780 miles per year, 547 miles below the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $3.929/gal (EIA Midwest PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 42.4 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in Kansas would pay roughly $464/year for electricity, saving about 74% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (23.7 MPG on-road fleet avg) | $1,787 | $1,949 |
| Regular gas price | $3.929/gal | $4.079/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 42.4¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 10,780 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 14.2¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #29 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in Kansas averages $3.929 per gallon (EIA Midwest PADD regional average), which is $0.15 below the national average of $4.079. Kansas ranks #30 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 Gas Taxes
Kansas charges a state gasoline excise tax of 24.0 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in Kansas pay a total of 42.4 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #34 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 10,780 miles per year and 23.7 MPG (on-road fleet average), the average driver in Kansas pays roughly $193 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 24.0¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 42.4¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 10,780 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $193 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in Kansas travels 10,780 miles per year, ranking #25 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 547 miles below the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024Kansas has a total of 31.7 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 2,937,880 (72% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on Kansas'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 | $1,502 |
| Midsize SUV | 19.6 | $2,161 |
| Pickup truck | 18.3 | $2,314 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in Kansas takes 20.0 minutes one way. About 76.6% of workers drive alone to work and 10.4% 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 | 20.0 min |
| Drove alone to work | 76.6% |
| Public transit | 0.4% |
| Worked from home | 10.4% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in Kansas is 14.2 cents per kWh, which ranks #32 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in Kansas costs roughly $0.043 per mile compared to $0.166 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 | $0.166 | $0.043 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (10,780 mi) | $1,787 | $464 |
| Annual savings with EV | $1,323 (74%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how Kansas's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $3.929 | 10,780 | $1,787 |
| Nebraska | $3.929 | 11,165 | $1,851 |
| Missouri | $3.929 | 13,291 | $2,203 |
| Oklahoma | $3.929 | 11,733 | $1,945 |
| Colorado | $4.051 | 9,538 | $1,630 |
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