See what charging really costs for your car, your state, and your driving habits-in under 10 seconds.
≈ 229.4 Wh/mi
Typical DC fast charging: $0.30-$0.60/kWh.
Accounts for energy lost during charging. 90% is a typical home-charging estimate.
Estimated monthly charging cost
$91.46
Estimated yearly cost
$1,097.49
5-year total: $5,487
Cost per mile
$0.09
Per 100 miles: $9.15 · Gas: $0.12/mile
You save vs. gas
$25.21/mo
$302.51/yr vs. a 30 MPG gas car
Electricity rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (2026-07, retrieved 2026-10-11). Vehicle range and MPGe: fueleconomy.gov (EPA). Battery capacity: manufacturer / ev-database.org (preliminary).
Your monthly charging cost comes down to four things: how far you drive, how efficient your EV is, where you charge, and what electricity costs there. The calculator follows these steps:
Example: driving 1,000 miles per month in a Tesla Model Y (4.36 mi/kWh) with 80% home charging at the California average of $0.3361/kWh and 20% public charging at $0.45/kWh costs about $91.46 per month after charging losses.
Residential electricity prices vary widely by state — from $0.127/kWh in Louisiana to $0.480/kWh in Hawaii (EIA, July 2026). Select any state to use its rate in the calculator.
| # | State | Residential rate ($/kWh) | vs. U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.480 | +162% | |
| 2 | $0.336 | +84% | |
| 3 | $0.320 | +75% | |
| 4 | $0.300 | +64% | |
| 5 | $0.300 | +64% | |
| 6 | $0.250 | +37% | |
| 7 | $0.245 | +34% | |
| 8 | $0.240 | +31% | |
| 9 | $0.240 | +31% | |
| 10 | $0.220 | +20% | |
| 11 | $0.200 | +9% | |
| 12 | $0.190 | +4% | |
| 13 | $0.190 | +4% | |
| 14 | $0.180 | -2% | |
| 15 | $0.175 | -4% | |
| 16 | $0.175 | -4% | |
| 17 | $0.170 | -7% | |
| 18 | $0.170 | -7% | |
| 19 | $0.155 | -15% | |
| 20 | $0.155 | -15% | |
| 21 | $0.155 | -15% | |
| 22 | $0.155 | -15% | |
| 23 | $0.150 | -18% | |
| 24 | $0.150 | -18% | |
| 25 | $0.150 | -18% | |
| 26 | $0.150 | -18% | |
| 27 | $0.150 | -18% | |
| 28 | $0.150 | -18% | |
| 29 | $0.150 | -18% | |
| 30 | $0.145 | -21% | |
| 31 | $0.140 | -24% | |
| 32 | $0.140 | -24% | |
| 33 | $0.135 | -26% | |
| 34 | $0.135 | -26% | |
| 35 | $0.135 | -26% | |
| 36 | $0.135 | -26% | |
| 37 | $0.135 | -26% | |
| 38 | $0.130 | -29% | |
| 39 | $0.130 | -29% | |
| 40 | $0.127 | -31% | |
| 41 | $0.125 | -32% | |
| 42 | $0.125 | -32% | |
| 43 | $0.125 | -32% | |
| 44 | $0.120 | -34% | |
| 45 | $0.120 | -34% | |
| 46 | $0.120 | -34% | |
| 47 | $0.115 | -37% | |
| 48 | $0.115 | -37% | |
| 49 | $0.115 | -37% | |
| 50 | $0.110 | -40% |
Compare EPA-rated efficiency for 16 popular EVs. Select a model to load its battery size and efficiency into the calculator.
| Model | Battery (kWh) | EPA range (mi) | Efficiency (mi/kWh) | MPGe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 346 | 4.61 | 128 | |
| 75 | 327 | 4.36 | 123 | |
| 77.4 | 290 | 3.75 | 106 | |
| 99.8 | 283 | 2.84 | 84 | |
| 77.4 | 319 | 4.12 | 114 | |
| 91 | 300 | 3.3 | 104 | |
| 85 | 307 | 3.61 | 103 | |
| 102 | 283 | 2.77 | 94 | |
| 71.4 | 288 | 4.03 | 120 | |
| 128 | 300 | 2.34 | 79 | |
| 85 | 294 | 3.46 | 99 | |
| 71.4 | 264 | 3.7 | 110 | |
| 87 | 267 | 3.07 | 90 | |
| 77 | 263 | 3.42 | 102 | |
| 102 | 303 | 2.97 | 85 | |
| 131 | 320 | 2.44 | 70 |
For most drivers, home charging costs about $40-$90 per month. The exact amount depends on how much you drive, your car efficiency, and your local electricity rate. For example, driving 1,000 miles per month in a Tesla Model Y (4.36 mi/kWh) at the California average rate of $0.3361/kWh costs about $85.65 per month after typical charging losses. Use the calculator above with your state and model for a personalized estimate.
At home electricity rates, most EVs cost about $0.04-$0.09 per mile, or $4-$9 per 100 miles. Public DC fast charging is more expensive, typically $0.10-$0.15 per mile. By comparison, a 30 MPG gas car at $3.50 per gallon costs about $0.12 per mile. Your per-mile cost falls as home charging share increases, which is why the home vs. public mix matters more than the car itself.
Yes, usually by 2-3 times. Home charging uses your residential electricity rate, which averages $0.1831/kWh nationally. Public DC fast charging typically costs $0.30-$0.60/kWh because it includes equipment, demand charges, and network fees. If you charge 80% at home and 20% in public, your blended cost stays close to the home rate; charging mostly in public can erase much of the EV fuel saving.
A Level 1 charger (standard outlet) adds about 3-5 miles of range per hour and suits low-mileage drivers. A Level 2 charger (240V) adds about 25-40 miles per hour, refilling most EVs overnight in 6-10 hours. For a 75 kWh battery, expect roughly 40-60 hours on Level 1 versus 8-11 hours on Level 2 from empty. Most owners charge a few hours nightly rather than from empty.
The cheapest time is usually overnight, roughly 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., when time-of-use rates are lowest. Many utilities offer off-peak rates 30-50% below peak pricing, and some have dedicated EV plans. Check your utility bill or website for a time-of-use schedule, then set your car or charger to delay charging until off-peak hours. Pairing off-peak charging with a high home-charging share gives the lowest possible per-mile cost.
Installing a Level 2 home charger typically costs $800-$2,500 in total, including the charger ($300-$700) and electrician labor. Simple installs near the panel sit at the low end; long wiring runs or panel upgrades push costs higher. The national average is around $1,700. Note that the federal 30% residential charging credit expired on June 30, 2026, so do not budget for it. See our installation cost guide for state-by-state figures.