Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Gas Price Relief for Philadelphia Drivers

Buying cheap gas in Philadelphia relates to playing the odds. Crude oil prices and local taxes make up the majority of costs at the pump. Smart consumers must recognize that crude oil is a highly competitive, free-market commodity, and regional prices of Black Gold will barely fluctuate per geography.

Hence, the prevailing spreads per Philadelphia area gas prices arrive part and parcel with the conflicting tax regimes of the City of Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Trenton, and Dover.

Essentially, the separate tax policies of these neighboring jurisdictions remains the key variable in terms of procuring cheap gas.

The State of New Jersey boasts the most favorable tax policy of all Northeast municipalities, with state and federal excise duties registering at 32.9 cents per gallon. Per the Philadelphia metropolitan area, Delaware follows with a 41.4-cent estimated rate.

Of course, the Keystone State, and specifically Philadelphia County feature the highest tax rates of the Atlantic Coast outside of New York City. Pennsylvania levies 50.7 cents per gallon at the pump. Additionally, Philadelphians are responsible for 7% sales tax charges, which trump greater Pennsylvania levels by 1%.

Logically, the cheap gas playbook begins with New Jersey and ends at Philadelphia as the final option.

The City of Brotherly Love must not despair. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware house the greatest concentration of oil refineries on the East Coast. The two largest are the Bayway facility at Linden, NJ and the Sunoco complex at Philadelphia, which process 573,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Port of Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and New York access to North Sea and Middle East crude oil, along with the sheer refining capacity of the area will effectively check prices. Philadelphians are paying $2.697 for regular unleaded, which undersells neighboring New York City at $2.714.

Philadelphia prices compare favorably to the U.S. Department of Energy regular grade $2.691 price point as of June 22, 2009.