According to Triple A, the average cost of a gallon of gas nationwide is $3.28. Here at home the average cost is $3.41. That high number is leaving some to choose between filling the tank and buying groceries.

It seems as though everything seems to be going up in price, as economists continue to talk about a recession and its not just gas that has risen in price over the past year.

According to one consumer website, the cost of a gallon of milk is about 12% of a families grocery budget. Coincidently enough the cost of a gallon rose from last year a total of 12%, almost $.26 a gallon.

The same holds true for other necessities in the grocery store; a loaf of bread is up 11% from a year ago, while a dozen eggs increased the most, almost 40%.

None of those items is quite as high as a gallon of gas right now but their close. So what is more of necessity?

Locally the average price for a gallon of gas is at $3.41 cents, 13 cents more than the national average, and 15 cents more than it was one month ago.

So just how expensive has it become to fill your car? Well of course it depends on what size it is. Think about how much you spend a month on groceries; now take a look at this:

With the average local price at $3.41 it cost a small compact car with a 12-gallon tank just over $40 to fill. Over the course of a month that's $163.

Bigger cars, a sedan for example, with an average tank size of 17 gallons will cost you nearly $58 to fill and more than $231 a month.

And how about those of you who love your truck, well a full size one with a 29 gallon tank costs just under $100 bucks to fill and just under $400 a month.

Just incase your wondering the highest price per gallon of gas is in California its $3.63 cents.

The lowest price, our neighbors in New Jersey, averaging $3.05.