Carmel area fuel prices: AAA Salinas metro regular $5.693, diesel $6.757 (July 23)
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AAA’s latest price check for the Carmel area uses the Salinas metro averages as a proxy. Price as of Tuesday, July 23, 2026: regular gas averaged $5.693/gal and on-highway diesel averaged $6.757/gal.
Regular gas: up vs yesterday and last week, slightly higher than last month
For regular unleaded, the Salinas metro average was $5.693/gal as of July 23.
- Yesterday (July 22): $5.652/gal, +$0.041
- Week ago: $5.524/gal, +$0.169
- Month ago: $5.672/gal, +$0.021
- Year ago: $4.713/gal, +$0.980
What that means at the pump: even small day-to-day changes still add up for people who drive regularly. For example, a 12-gallon fill-up would cost about $0.49 more than yesterday based on the +$0.041/gal move.
Diesel: slightly higher vs yesterday, still up vs last week and year
For on-highway diesel, the Salinas metro average was $6.757/gal as of July 23.
- Yesterday (July 22): $6.734/gal, +$0.023
- Week ago: $6.576/gal, +$0.181
- Month ago: $6.774/gal, −$0.017
- Year ago: $5.490/gal, +$1.267
In plain terms, diesel is near-steady vs yesterday (just a couple cents higher), but fleets and other diesel users are paying more than they were paying a week ago. For a 30-gallon fill-up, the +$0.023/gal move works out to roughly $0.69 vs yesterday.
Context: federal weekly numbers point to elevated levels vs last year
EIA’s weekly Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (release date July 21, 2026) continues to show U.S. regular gasoline and on-highway diesel prices higher than a week ago, and also higher than a year ago. (Those federal figures are not the same as AAA’s metro retail averages, but they help explain why overall levels can stay elevated.)
Why Salinas metro matters for Carmel readers
Salinas is a BLS-defined metro area that includes Monterey County, which is why these Salinas metro averages are used as a practical Carmel-area proxy.
Quick planning tip (fuel budgets)
Because these changes show up in cents-per-gallon, the impact can be easy to underestimate—especially for commuters with longer routes and for contractors and delivery drivers who make frequent stops or run equipment.
What are you seeing locally? Share the highest and lowest pump prices you’re seeing in the Carmel area today or this week.
Sources
- AAA Gas Prices — Salinas metro (CA metro averages)
- EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (weekly)
- BLS OEWS MSA definitions (Salinas includes Monterey County)
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