system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How can rural areas sell gas at a cheaper price than in densely populated areas (despite higher cost of transport)?
gpt
The cost of operating the station are higher in urban settings:

1. real estate costs.
2. labor costs.
3. sometimes delivery costs, storage volumes requiring more frequent resupply and so on.
4. urban areas are more likely to have additional taxation on gasoline, as well has higher sales tax (you'll note that gasoline prices are always advertised inclusive of taxation, unlike many products).

Those are all rational.  There is also the "what the market will bear" consideration.  There is also the "what are people will to pay", and those forces can vary greatly based on where other stations are located, the uniqueness of your location (are you right near the rental car return place?) and so on.  You'll see more variety of that uniqueness in a heavily populated area.