Final answer:
Using rough estimates, the average person spends more on gasoline (approximately $93.39) than on coffee (about $60) in a month, assuming daily coffee purchases on workdays and the average annual gasoline consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate whether the average person spends more on coffee or gasoline in a month, we'll consider some generalized costs and typical behaviors. Firstly, let's consider that a person might purchase a coffee every workday of the month. If a coffee costs around $3 and there are roughly 20 workdays in a month, the monthly coffee expense would be approximately $60.
Next, let's look at gasoline expenses. In one of the provided examples, it was mentioned that a typical American buys about 400 gallons of gasoline per year for personal transportation. This translates to roughly 33 gallons per month. If the average price for a gallon of gasoline is historically observed to fluctuate, with prices at $3.71 per gallon in June 2014 and $1.96 per gallon by January 2016, for the sake of estimation we can take an average cost of $2.83 per gallon (the midpoint of the two given prices). Multiplying 33 gallons by $2.83 gives us a monthly gasoline expense of about $93.39.
Comparing the two estimates, the average person spends more on gasoline ($93.39) than on coffee ($60) in a typical month. However, these figures can vary based on individual habits and market prices at any given time. Yet, even with price variations, it appears that gasoline is the greater expense for the average individual. It is important to note that this is a simplified estimate and actual expenses can differ widely based on a variety of factors including geographic location, personal consumption rates, and fluctuations in market prices.