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Latinos already spend more on gasoline, face higher housing burdens, and have fewer options to avoid rising fuel costs

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Chhandara Pech Contributor
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Silvia R. González Experts
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Paul M. Ong Experts
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Rosario Majano Staff
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Arturo Vargas Bustamante Experts

Gas prices may have started to ease, but the pressure on household budgets is far from over.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

New UCLA Analysis Finds Rising Gas Prices Are Deepening Affordability Pressures for Latino Families in California
Latinos already spend more on gasoline, face higher housing burdens, and have fewer options to avoid rising fuel costs, according to analysis.

LOS ANGELES (April 23, 2026) — Gas prices may have started to ease, but the pressure on household budgets is far from over. A new factsheet from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK) finds that for Latino households in California, rising gasoline costs are intensifying affordability pressures that were already in place—adding what could amount to billions in additional costs for Latino households statewide. 

The analysis authored by Chhandara Pech, Silvia R. González, Paul M. Ong, Rosario Majano, and Arturo Vargas Bustamante, examines how gas spending, commuting patterns, vehicle access, and housing costs create disproportionate financial strain for Latino residents in California. It shows that Latino households spend more on gasoline than non-Latinos households. They also devote a larger share of their budgets to fuel, and are more likely to face housing cost burdens that leave less room to absorb rising everyday expenses. 

Key findings include:

  • On average, Latino households spend about $4,900 a year on gasoline, compared to about $3,600 for non-Latinos households (about 36% more).
  • In California, 71% of Latino workers drive alone to work, compared to 66% of non-Latino workers, and 13% carpool, compared to 8% of non-Latino workers. At the same time, only 8% of Latino workers work from home, compared to 18% of non-Latino workers. 
  • About 61% of Latino households report that gasoline prices limit the number of places they can go, compared to 44% of non-Latino households.
  • Only 3% of vehicles in Latino households are hybrid or electric, compared to 6% in non-Latino. Latino households are also more likely to rely on older vehicles, which can increase gasoline use and make it harder to absorb fuel price increases. 
  • Nearly half (47%) of Latino households in California are housing cost-burdened, meaning they spend at least 30% of their income on housing, compared to 41% of non-Latino households. Among Latino renters, that figure rises to nearly 58%, showing how housing and transportation costs combine to squeeze already strained budgets. 

Additionally, between January and April 2026, California gas prices rose by about $1.65 per gallon which could increase annual gasoline costs by roughly $1,300 to $1,700, on average, and approximately $5.9 billion to $7.4 billion statewide.

“Gasoline prices may move up and down, but the underlying vulnerability is much more constant,” said Bustamante, faculty director of research at LPPI. “This brief shows that Latino households are already carrying a heavier affordability burden. When gasoline prices rise, the effects are sharper because many households have fewer alternatives and less financial cushion.”

Read the factsheet here. 

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About UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is a non-partisan research institute that seeks to inform, engage, and empower Latinos through innovative research and policy analysis. LPPI aims to promote equitable and inclusive policies that address the needs of the Latino community and advance social justice. latino.ucla.edu.