Gas in California averaged $3.05 in 2020 — $3.79 in today’s money
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2020, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars (CPI-U).
How California prices moved through 2020
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $3.43 the week of January 6, 2020; the low was $2.63 the week of May 4, 2020 — a swing of 30.1%.
View the weekly data (52 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 6, 2020 | $3.43 | $4.26 |
| January 13, 2020 | $3.42 | $4.25 |
| January 20, 2020 | $3.41 | $4.23 |
| January 27, 2020 | $3.39 | $4.21 |
| February 3, 2020 | $3.37 | $4.19 |
| February 10, 2020 | $3.37 | $4.18 |
| February 17, 2020 | $3.36 | $4.17 |
| February 24, 2020 | $3.36 | $4.17 |
| March 2, 2020 | $3.35 | $4.18 |
| March 9, 2020 | $3.33 | $4.15 |
| March 16, 2020 | $3.22 | $4.02 |
| March 23, 2020 | $3.07 | $3.83 |
| March 30, 2020 | $2.95 | $3.68 |
| April 6, 2020 | $2.87 | $3.61 |
| April 13, 2020 | $2.75 | $3.46 |
| April 20, 2020 | $2.70 | $3.40 |
| April 27, 2020 | $2.65 | $3.33 |
| May 4, 2020 | $2.63 | $3.32 |
| May 11, 2020 | $2.65 | $3.34 |
| May 18, 2020 | $2.69 | $3.38 |
| May 25, 2020 | $2.77 | $3.48 |
| June 1, 2020 | $2.80 | $3.50 |
| June 8, 2020 | $2.85 | $3.58 |
| June 15, 2020 | $2.89 | $3.62 |
| June 22, 2020 | $2.94 | $3.68 |
| June 29, 2020 | $2.96 | $3.71 |
| July 6, 2020 | $2.98 | $3.71 |
| July 13, 2020 | $3.02 | $3.77 |
| July 20, 2020 | $3.03 | $3.78 |
| July 27, 2020 | $3.05 | $3.80 |
| August 3, 2020 | $3.06 | $3.80 |
| August 10, 2020 | $3.05 | $3.79 |
| August 17, 2020 | $3.07 | $3.81 |
| August 24, 2020 | $3.09 | $3.84 |
| August 31, 2020 | $3.10 | $3.85 |
| September 7, 2020 | $3.11 | $3.85 |
| September 14, 2020 | $3.10 | $3.84 |
| September 21, 2020 | $3.09 | $3.82 |
| September 28, 2020 | $3.07 | $3.80 |
| October 5, 2020 | $3.06 | $3.79 |
| October 12, 2020 | $3.05 | $3.77 |
| October 19, 2020 | $3.05 | $3.77 |
| October 26, 2020 | $3.05 | $3.77 |
| November 2, 2020 | $3.03 | $3.74 |
| November 9, 2020 | $3.03 | $3.74 |
| November 16, 2020 | $3.03 | $3.74 |
| November 23, 2020 | $3.02 | $3.73 |
| November 30, 2020 | $3.03 | $3.74 |
| December 7, 2020 | $3.04 | $3.74 |
| December 14, 2020 | $3.04 | $3.74 |
| December 21, 2020 | $3.06 | $3.76 |
| December 28, 2020 | $3.08 | $3.79 |
2020: California and the national picture
2020 coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. In California, the weekly average for regular gasoline ran from a low of $2.63 (May 4, 2020) to a high of $3.43 (January 6, 2020). Adjusted for inflation, the year’s average of $3.79 ranks 21st-highest in the state’s weekly record.
How 2020 compares, adjusted for inflation
2020 was California’s 21st-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 7th-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
California fuel prices by grade in 2020
Year-average price per grade, including diesel. Premium figures are the spread drivers paid for higher-octane fuel that year.
| Grade | Avg / gal | 2025 $ | vs. regular |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $3.05 | $3.79 | — |
| Midgrade | $3.28 | $4.08 | +23.4¢ |
| Premium | $3.38 | $4.20 | +32.8¢ |
| Diesel | $3.38 | $4.20 | +32.7¢ |
California gas prices in 2020, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2020?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2020 was $3.05 per gallon — about $3.79 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly data.
- How high did gas prices get in California during 2020?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $3.43 the week of January 6, 2020 and bottomed out at $2.63 the week of May 4, 2020 — a swing of 30.1% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2020 than in 2019?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was cheaper in 2020 than in 2019, down 16.4% year over year.
- How does 2020 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2020 was the 21st-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).