Long known for its sprawling freeways and car-centric lifestyle, Los Angeles is reaching a breaking point as fuel costs turn the simple act of driving into a "miserable, miserable, miserable" experience. As regional gas prices soar past $8 a gallon, residents in the once-thriving Golden State are checking their eyes and their bank accounts, with some admitting they "thought it was a meme" or "thought it was AI." But the financial pain is all too real for those living in the nation’s most expensive car culture, where filling a tank now requires a triple-digit investment. "It's very painful to drive in L.A. right now, and especially if you're barely making minimum wage, it's not even worth driving," Amador, from Santa Clarita, told Fox News Digital during a man-on-the-street segment. "Thought it was a meme, thought it was AI, but looking at it up close, it's kind of crazy to think you're paying almost $9." "It’s ridiculous," Aida, a mother originally from Nebraska, also told Fox News Digital. "Can I swear on the news? I said, 'God d---! That was too much.' It's too much for those prices." THE $1,600 LETTUCE: CALIFORNIA GROWERS WARN OF ‘MASTER PLAN’ STRANGLING FAMILY FARMS "This is so crazy," Bessy, who was born in El Salvador, added. "I never thought gas [was] gonna go that [high]. Like it's just crazy." Stopping at multiple gas stations across Los Angeles County, drivers expressed disbelief at gasoline prices approaching $9 per gallon. According to AAA, as of the last week of April, California’s average price per gallon was $6.01, while the national average was $4.30. The highest price Fox News Digital saw was at a Chevron in Downtown Los Angeles, where a regular gallon was $8.29 and the highest grade of diesel ran $8.89 per gallon. Drivers said that filling up their tank now exceeds $100, while others make the decision to pump what they fiscally can. Nick, an LA resident originally hailing from Phoenix, said he paid $110 at the pump. "I don't even look… I can't look at it. I put it in, and then I put the little thing up, and I turn around, and I put my card in, and I just pray to God. It's over $100," Aida said.
