States Where the Iran War is Hurting Americans the Most at the Pump

By Sam Stebbins  •  May 20, 2026
a woman filling a car with gas at a gas station
Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash

Global oil prices have surged since the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes against Iran in late February 2026. The price spike is largely due to the Iranian regime’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping channel for approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply. Energy independent, the United States has relatively limited exposure to the supply shock. Still, the Strait’s closure has still sent prices at the pump soaring in the U.S. by over 50%. 

According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular gas is now $4.53 nationwide, up about $1.55 from before the war began. But all drivers are now paying considerably more for gas than they were only three months ago, the price spike is not affecting all Americans equally – and in some states, the ongoing war in Iran is hitting household budgets especially hard. 

Due to a range of factors, including tax rates, distribution costs, and retail competition, gas prices vary across the country. As of May 19, the average price of regular gas was nearing or exceeding $6.00 per gallon in some states. In others, meanwhile, gas prices were still below $4.00 a gallon. Additionally, Americans living in larger or more rural states drive thousands of miles more each year on average than those living in smaller, or more urban areas. When considering variations in both driving distances and fuel costs at the state level, Americans in certain parts of the country are disproportionately shouldering the financial burden of higher gas prices. 

Using data from AAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states where the Iran war is hurting Americans the most at the pump. We ranked all 50 states on the difference in projected annual gas expenditures since the start of the war in Iran, listing the 10 states with the highest nominal differences in projected spending. Calculations are based on average, state-level pre-war gas prices from the Center for American Progress, and current gas prices as reported by AAA. Annual spending projections account for average annual vehicle travel miles by state, as reported by the DOT, and an average vehicle fuel economy of 24.4 miles per gallon, as reported by the U.S. Department of Energy. Supplemental data used to calculate projected gas expenditures as a share of annual wages at the state-level are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

With gas prices at current levels, projected annual gas expenditures have climbed about $670 nationwide since the start of the war. Among the 10 states on this list, drivers can expect to pay between $798 and $1,219 more on gas over the course of a year.  

Aerial view of a busy highway in Chattanooga with lush greenery and urban landscape under cloudy skies.
Photo by K on Pexels

10. Tennessee

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$798 per year (+63.0%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $2,064 per year (approx. 3.0% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,266 per year (approx. 1.8% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.17 current; $2.56 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 12,069 per year

9. Missouri

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$821 per year (+57.5%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $2,247 per year (approx. 3.5% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,426 per year (approx. 2.2% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.18 current; $2.65 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 13,132 per year

8. Utah

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$828 per year (+69.0%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $2,028 per year (approx. 3.0% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,200 per year (approx. 1.8% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.68 current; $2.77 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 10,571 per year

7. North Dakota

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$829 per year (+60.8%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $2,193 per year (approx. 3.3% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,364 per year (approx. 2.0% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.21 current; $2.62 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 12,702 per year

6. Mississippi

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$832 per year (+58.0%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $2,266 per year (approx. 4.3% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,434 per year (approx. 2.7% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.00 current; $2.53 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 13,827 per year

5. Alabama

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$851 per year (+54.5%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $2,414 per year (approx. 3.8% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,563 per year (approx. 2.5% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.09 current; $2.65 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 14,388 per year

4. Wisconsin

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$852 per year (+68.0%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $2,106 per year (approx. 3.3% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,253 per year (approx. 2.0% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.50 current; $2.68 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 11,410 per year

3. New Mexico

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$922 per year (+60.6%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $2,444 per year (approx. 3.9% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,521 per year (approx. 2.5% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.48 current; $2.79 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 13,303 per year

2. Montana

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$930 per year (+64.4%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $2,375 per year (approx. 3.9% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,445 per year (approx. 2.4% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.59 current; $2.79 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 12,636 per year

1. Wyoming

  • Increase in projected average gas expenditure since the start of the war: +$1,219 per year (+65.8%)
  • Estimated average gas spending at current prices: $3,072 per year (approx. 4.9% of average wage in state)
  • Estimated average gas spending at pre-war prices: $1,853 per year (approx. 3.0% of average wage in state)
  • Average price of a gallon of gas in state: $4.54 current; $2.74 pre-war
  • Average vehicle travel miles per year in state: 16,501 per year


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