NACO, Sonora — Erika Saavedra handed $30 to Francisco Moreno and he filled the gas tank of her Chevrolet car with more than 10 gallons of gas.

The exchange, which took place on Friday, seemed like a dream in this age of $4-per-gallon gas prices. But it was for real.

Saavedra, who lives in Naco, Ariz., and works in Bisbee, said she started crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to buy gas in Naco, Sonora, a couple weeks ago.

“I come here for different purposes. Like, right now, my main reason was to get gas. I’m on empty and I wasn’t going to pay $4 a gallon,” she said.

Moreno, who pumps gas at the PEMEX station in Naco, Sonora, said Saavedra is one of many Americans who regularly come to Mexico to purchase gas.

Regular gas at the PEMEX station in Naco, Sonora, is about $1 cheaper per gallon than in Bisbee.

At the PEMEX on Friday, magna gas, which is 87 octane, cost 7.53 pesos per liter, or about $2.87 per gallon. The price for premium gas, which is 91 octane, was 8.56 pesos per liter, or about $3.26 per gallon. But, Moreno said, the station is not currently selling premium.

Meanwhile, at the Circle K in Bisbee on Friday, for example, regular gas, which is 87 octane, was $3.84 per gallon. And, premium, which is 91 octane, cost $4.04 per gallon.

Rachelle Madrigal and Mark Weber, both of Bisbee, saved a total of about $50 by getting gas for two cars at the PEMEX in Naco, Sonora, on Friday.

They started fueling up there about three weeks ago.

Weber said he has filled the tank of the Ford Crown Victoria there three times so far and he will continue to do so. It cost about $50 for about 17 1/2 gallons.

“The car runs fine,” he said.

Madrigal said it was the first time filling up the Dodge Ram 1500 there. Moreno put about 33 1/2 gallons in the vehicle for about $96.

Saavedra saved about $10 by getting gas in Naco, Sonora, on Friday. It’s money that she can use some other day.

“If you come down here and you have $10, you could put $5 worth of gas and then go and buy yourself some tacos for $5,” she said.

HERALD/REVIEW reporter Jonathon Shacat can be reached at 515-4693 or by e-mail at jonathon.shacat@bisbeereview.net.