- Driving in New Mexico costs an estimated $2,057 per year in fuel, ranking #9 among all states.
- The average driver in New Mexico travels 13,527 miles per year, 2,200 miles above the national average.
- Regular gasoline averages $3.604/gal (EIA Gulf Coast PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 35.4 cents/gal.
- An EV driver in New Mexico would pay roughly $582/year for electricity, saving about 72% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (23.7 MPG on-road fleet avg) | $2,057 | $1,949 |
| Regular gas price | $3.604/gal | $4.079/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 35.4¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 13,527 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 14.2¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #9 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in New Mexico averages $3.604 per gallon (EIA Gulf Coast PADD regional average), which is $0.47 below the national average of $4.079. New Mexico ranks #50 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 Gas Taxes
New Mexico charges a state gasoline excise tax of 17.0 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in New Mexico pay a total of 35.4 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #49 among all states (1 = highest tax).
FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax RatesAt 13,527 miles per year and 23.7 MPG (on-road fleet average), the average driver in New Mexico pays roughly $202 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 17.0¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 35.4¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 13,527 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $202 |
04 Miles Driven
The average driver in New Mexico travels 13,527 miles per year, ranking #4 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 2,200 miles above the national average of 11,327.
FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024New Mexico has a total of 28.6 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 2,117,522 (74% urban).
FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census05 Annual Fuel Cost
Based on New Mexico'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 | $1,729 |
| Midsize SUV | 19.6 | $2,487 |
| Pickup truck | 18.3 | $2,664 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 Commuting
The average commute in New Mexico takes 23.2 minutes one way. About 74.8% of workers drive alone to work and 10.7% 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 | 23.2 min |
| Drove alone to work | 74.8% |
| Public transit | 0.7% |
| Worked from home | 10.7% |
07 EV Comparison
The average residential electricity rate in New Mexico is 14.2 cents per kWh, which ranks #31 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in New Mexico costs roughly $0.043 per mile compared to $0.152 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 | $0.152 | $0.043 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (13,527 mi) | $2,057 | $582 |
| Annual savings with EV | $1,475 (72%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how New Mexico's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $3.604 | 13,527 | $2,057 |
| Colorado | $4.051 | 9,538 | $1,630 |
| Oklahoma | $3.929 | 11,733 | $1,945 |
| Texas | $3.532 | 10,583 | $1,577 |
| Arizona | $5.130 | 9,851 | $2,132 |
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