People do not buy a Prius to “save money on gas”. They buy it to simply “consume less gas”.
If you’re just looking to save money and get great gas mileage, then a Yaris or old Geo Metro is the way to go. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint slightly because every little bit helps, and don’t mind paying extra to do it, then get the Prius. Or move to a major metro area with decent mass transport.
The price premium for a hybrid drivetrain will take something like ten years to recoup just in gas savings. Hence why automakers have realized that people willing to pay a premium usually want a premium vehicle, thus explaining the Lexus line of über-expensive luxury hybrids.