Long Island has some of the lowest gas prices in the state but locals said that’s no victory as they watch fuel costs soar due to the Iran war.
Gas in Nassau and Suffolk counties is now sitting at a combined of average of $4.03 — nine cents below the state’s average and seven cents below the national average — to tie Long Island with Kingston for the metro regions with the lowest oil prices in the state, according to new data from AAA on Wednesday.
But drivers said $4 a gallon is still $4 a gallon — especially after prices hikes spiked 18% from last year, the steepest price tag since summer 2022 when gas was over $5, according to data from AAA and the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics
“Am I supposed to cheer? Lara Grayson, 63, told The Post as she was filling up at Empire Gas in Sayville.
“I’m not grateful for this s–t, nor am I impressed by the price,” she added.
Other drivers shared her anger, arguing that “cheapest” doesn’t mean affordable when costs have risen so dramatically — and quickly.
“Even if we do have cheaper gas than most places, it’s still really hurting my pockets, so it doesn’t feel like we do,” Alaina Rodriguez, 27, told The Post.
Prior to the recent hike, Rodriguez said she would fill her tank up once a week for about $25. But now, that same $25 is only getting her to about half a tank, she said, and she’s forced her to fill up two or three times a week — spending about $75 every for her Honda Civic.
“If this is the cheapest gas in the state right here, then God help us,” one driver said.
The driver, sporting a Hyundai SUV, told The Post he has been spending nearly $100 per-week to fill-up since the war got under way.
He also worried prices could go up even more if the war drags on or supply issues linger.
“It’s killing me …I wish I could just ride a bike across the island at this point,” the motorist said.
