California gas prices nearing $7 a gallon has San Diego drivers grumbling

Gas prices in California have had a history of being higher than in many other areas of the US, but recently they have risen to well over $6 and even $7 a gallon in some parts.

This far exceeds the current national average of $3.96, per Y-Charts.

The gas price hike has caused many California residents to make hard choices, sometimes having to choose between filling up their tank or buying lunch.

San Diego residents at a local 7-Eleven spoke to FOX News Digital about how rising gas prices, have been affecting their lives.

“Filling this thing up, [it’s] like $130,” said one resident, who explained his full gas typically only lasts him about a week. Another resident, who explained how gas for the roofing company trucks is a “lot of money,” described how he pays between $100-$150 to fill up his gas tank. 

Many of the residents who talked to FOX News Digital admitted they have to make conscious choices between paying for gas or spending money on other necessities.

One resident even described having to “sometimes” make the choice between filling his tank or “lunch.”

“I am fortunate to be a travel nurse at this moment, but I am thinking of staying staff in San Diego, and it would be very hard to stay as staff unless the wages went up,” explained Devon, a travel nurse currently in San Diego. She said a travel nurse’s salary has helped with making the cost of living in the city manageable, but on a staff wage it would be “really difficult.”

“Especially like living on your own, paying one rent by yourself. So hopefully, gas prices go down,” Devon said.

Another resident, Rocco, a local automotive technician, explained that while his pay has fluctuated, his wages have not kept pace with the rising price of gas or the general cost of living in San Diego. 

“It’s not equivalent, you know, like it doesn’t make up for how high gas prices are in comparison to what I make,” he said. “You know, groceries, bills, phone bill, rent, everything. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Oh, I can’t go out this week. I can’t do this.’ It’s kind of hard.”