I have a question about gasoline prices that I hope
will stay limited to the substance and nature of the question, especially since a number of TSL posters live in suburban areas close to major urban centers.
When we moved from the CLT three years ago to the Promised Land here in Cramerton we immediately noticed how much less expensive many daily commodities are. Until now.
Driving around both Charlotte and Gastonia today, gas prices are uniformly 30 cents a gallon cheaper in the CLT. I don’t get it.
Does anyone?
33 Replies
3mo
such as Sam's, BJ's, or Costco? I know here in Roanoke, gas is usually cheaper on the side of town that includes the Sam's & the BJ's than it is anywhere else in town. Also cheaper there than in Christiansburg, where I live now.
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3mo
extra.
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3mo
Greenville VT nailed this one.
(In response to this post by Stork)
3mo
to help fund our roads.
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3mo
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3mo
Chevron, are all exactly the same price. Its BS... 7-11 is the cheapest in our area but only thru their Loyalty program, if you are willing to put that gas in your tank....
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3mo
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3mo
Usually price differences across states are driven by taxes.
Within states it usually is dictated by proximity to the supply terminals. The further away you are the more it costs you to transport it from the terminal to the c stores. And those transportation contracts are pretty much a passthrough of diesel costs for trucks with some modest mark up. So right now the cost of diesel is going to impact more right now with the increase in diesel cost the stations that are farther from the fuel terminals.
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3mo
We have a refinery in town in W PA. Most of the oil that is refined is taken from the ground in central PA and transported maybe an hour. The most expensive gas I can find in W PA is in our town with the refinery an hour away from the oil. And PA gas tax is absurd. If you live anywhere near the Ohio, MD, or NY (of all places) state lines, you drive to those states to get gas.
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3mo
that 'evened up' a couple of years ago.
(In response to this post by Happy Dog)
3mo
in N Charlotte are closer to Gastonia than many outer suburbs in CharMeck. And high rent tax areas in CLT still have cheaper gas than middle or lower middle class neighborhoods in Gastonia.
Not sure how local property taxes tie into pump prices at gas stations.
(In response to this post by GreenvilleVT)
3mo
Taxes are the big difference. Sorry California.
Not all gas stations ( or franchises) have agreements with every terminal. So they might have chosen Spartanburg to get better fuel prices but then they get hammered when diesel spikes. Also much more competition in Charlotte than Gastonia or similar markets and that dictates how much you can mark fuel up.
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3mo
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3mo
Where are the fact checkers?
Type your question in ChatGPT.
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
3mo
Here is why gas prices are often cheaper in Charlotte:
Regional Proximity to Refineries: The Southeastern U.S. is close to major oil refineries along the Gulf Coast, reducing transportation costs for fuel, which keeps prices lower than in areas like the West Coast.
Lower Taxes Compared to National Average: While not as low as South Carolina, North Carolina's state excise taxes on gasoline are often lower than the national average, resulting in cheaper prices at the pump compared to many other states.
High Competition/Wholesale Clubs: The high density of retailers—particularly near competition centers like Costco and Sam's Club—drives down prices, especially when smaller stations compete with these high-volume retailers.
Winter Fuel Blends: In winter months, gas stations switch to a "winter blend" of fuel, which is cheaper to produce and contributes to lower prices, according to the Ashe Post and Times.
** Edited by Stork at 4/24/2026, 2:27:29 PM
(In response to this post by PhotoHokieNC)
3mo
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3mo
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3mo
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3mo
both immediately bordering on SC, that would be the same. SC has increased gas taxes statewide the past few years, I guess, because the pump prices in Lake Wylie or Clover are only pennies lower than anything in NC
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3mo
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3mo
Mecklenburg than the identical gas pumps in Gastonia/Cramerton/Belmont, etc.
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3mo
(In response to this post by PhotoHokieNC)