The Nissan Altima is a comfortable, affordable midsize sedan that has long been a value pick for commuters and families. If it is on your list, the practical question is how much a Nissan Altima costs in gas per year.
Thanks to an efficient engine and a smooth transmission tuned for economy, the Altima keeps fuel costs reasonable for a roomy sedan. Here is the real annual cost, broken down by mileage.
How much does a Nissan Altima cost in gas per year?
Your annual fuel bill comes down to three things: how far you drive, what you pay per gallon, and the car’s MPG. The Nissan Altima returns about 32 MPG combined, so here is what a year of driving costs at three common mileage levels, using the current national average of roughly $3.91 a gallon.
| Miles driven per year | Annual gas cost | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 miles | $1,222 | $102 |
| 12,000 miles | $1,466 | $122 |
| 15,000 miles | $1,833 | $153 |
So the typical driver spends around $1,650 a year, or about $137 a month, on gas in a Nissan Altima. That works out to roughly $0.12 per mile in fuel alone. Pay less than the national average where you live and the bill drops; at $3.50 a gallon the 13,500-mile figure falls to about $1,477, while at $4.50 it climbs to around $1,898. Check what you actually pay on the live gas price tracker and plug it into the gas cost calculator for a number matched to your driving.
Zoom out and the figure gets your attention. Over five years, a typical Nissan Altima driver spends roughly $8,248 on gas alone, and a decade of ownership close to double that. That is real money, which is exactly why fuel economy deserves a place in the buying decision alongside the sticker price and the monthly payment. A thriftier trim, or a hybrid version where one exists, quietly pays you back at every fill-up.
What kind of MPG does the Nissan Altima really get?
Recent Nissan Altima models earn an EPA combined rating of around 32 MPG from the standard four-cylinder, roughly 27 in the city and a strong 39 on the highway, which makes it an excellent road-trip companion. All-wheel-drive versions dip a couple of MPG, and the Altima does not currently offer a hybrid, so the efficient 2.5-liter is your economy option.
Keep in mind that the window-sticker number is a lab figure. Real-world mileage usually lands 10 to 15% lower, shaped by short trips, cold starts, aggressive acceleration, roof racks, and under-inflated tires. The honest way to know your Nissan Altima’s number is to measure it: fill up, note the odometer, and run the math through the MPG calculator, then confirm the gallons any trip will use with the fuel consumption calculator.
Monthly, weekly, and per-mile cost
Big annual numbers are easy to ignore, so break them down. At the typical 13,500 miles a year, a Nissan Altima runs about $137 a month and roughly $32 a week in gas. On a per-mile basis that is about $0.12, but fuel is only part of what a mile really costs. Tires, oil, brakes, and depreciation stack on top, which is why the cost per mile calculator gives a truer picture of ownership. If most of your miles are a daily commute, the commute cost calculator shows exactly what that drive adds up to each month.
Here is a concrete example. A 30-mile round-trip commute five days a week comes to about 7,800 miles a year, which in a Nissan Altima means roughly $953 in commuting fuel alone, before you drive anywhere on the weekend. Small changes to that daily routine, carpooling twice a week, trimming one errand trip, or working from home a day, translate straight into fuel savings you can feel.
What changes your Nissan Altima’s yearly fuel bill
Miles driven. This is the biggest lever by far. A 20,000-mile-a-year commuter spends nearly double what a 10,000-mile city driver does in the same car, no matter how efficient it is.
Local gas prices. Where you live matters enormously. The same Nissan Altima costs hundreds more per year in high-price states like California than in cheaper states. Compare your state on the gas prices by state page to see where you fall.
City versus highway. The Nissan Altima’s highway number beats its city number, so a driver stuck in stop-and-go traffic burns more than the combined rating suggests. Smooth, steady highway miles are the cheapest kind. In dollar terms, a driver who does mostly city miles can easily spend a few hundred dollars a year more than one who cruises highways, even in the same car.
Fuel grade. Good news here: the Nissan Altima is designed to run on regular unleaded, not premium, so you are already buying the cheapest grade at the pump. Cars that require premium can cost hundreds more a year, so sticking with regular where the manufacturer allows it is a saving many drivers overlook.
Driving style and upkeep. Hard acceleration, speeding, and a neglected air filter or soft tires all quietly raise the bill. Gentle inputs and basic maintenance protect the MPG you paid for.
How the Nissan Altima compares
Among midsize sedans, the Altima is competitive, with a combined rating near the class norm and a highway figure that beats many rivals. It will not match a hybrid competitor on the yearly bill, but against other gas midsize sedans it holds its own and rewards highway-heavy drivers especially.
If you are curious whether an electric car would be cheaper to run than the Nissan Altima, the EV vs gas by state tool lays the two side by side using your local energy and fuel prices, which is the only fair way to compare.
How to cut your Nissan Altima’s gas costs
- The Altima’s strong highway MPG rewards steady cruising; measure yours with the MPG calculator.
- Buy on the cheapest days using our best day to buy gas guide.
- Keep tires inflated and avoid hard acceleration to protect economy.
- Find the lowest local pump with a gas price app.
- Compare your state on the gas prices by state page.
Does fuel economy matter when buying a Nissan Altima?
More than most buyers realize. Two versions of the same car with different MPG can differ by hundreds of dollars a year at the pump, and over a typical ownership period that gap can rival the price difference between trims. When you compare a Nissan Altima against rivals, or one Nissan Altima trim against another, it pays to look past the monthly payment and add the yearly fuel cost into the total. A slightly pricier but thriftier version often costs less to own once the gas is counted.
This is also where a hybrid or a more efficient engine earns its keep. Run the trims you are considering through the gas cost calculator side by side, and if you are open to going electric, the EV vs gas by state tool shows how charging would compare with fueling a Nissan Altima where you live.
So, is the Nissan Altima cheap to run?
For a comfortable midsize sedan, yes. The Altima’s efficient engine and strong highway economy keep running costs reasonable, and its value pricing means the whole ownership package stays affordable, even without a hybrid option.
How we calculate these figures
The math is transparent: annual gas cost = (miles driven ÷ combined MPG) × price per gallon. We use the Nissan Altima’s combined fuel-economy rating from the EPA’s official ratings for recent model years, an assumed 13,500 miles a year (close to the U.S. average), and the current national average pump price of about $3.91 a gallon. Change any input and the total changes with it.
Pump prices trace to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly retail survey, refreshed on our state price pages every business day. For your exact trim and model year, confirm the EPA rating and measure your real-world MPG with the MPG calculator. Read how we source everything on our methodology and sources pages.
Figures reviewed by Alex Morgan · Last reviewed: July 12, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Nissan Altima cost in gas per year?
About $1,650 a year for a typical 13,500-mile driver at roughly 32 MPG and the national average near $3.91 a gallon. Highway-heavy drivers often spend less.
What is the Nissan Altima’s MPG?
Recent Altimas earn around 32 MPG combined (about 27 city, 39 highway) with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is a couple of MPG lower.
How much does a Nissan Altima cost in gas per month?
Roughly $138 a month for a typical driver, depending on mileage and local prices.
Is the Nissan Altima good on gas?
Yes, for a midsize sedan, with a particularly strong highway rating. It has no hybrid option, but the standard engine is efficient.
Does the Altima come as a hybrid?
Not currently. The efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder is the economy choice, and it does well on the highway.
The bottom line
Expect a Nissan Altima to cost around $1,650 a year in gas for a typical driver, or about $137 a month, with your real number rising or falling on your mileage and local prices. It is reasonably cheap to run for its class, and a few simple habits shave even more off the total.
Want your exact figure? Run your mileage through the gas cost calculator and check today’s prices in your state. To see what fuel-saving habits are worth, try the fuel savings calculator.