The short answer
Charging an electric car at home costs about 5 to 6 cents per mile — roughly $8 to $19 for a full charge — using the U.S. average electricity rate near 18.8 cents per kWh. That is less than half the cost of gasoline, which runs about 13 to 14 cents per mile for a 30-mpg car at mid-2026 prices.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
At home it costs roughly $8 to $19 for a full charge, or about 5 to 6 cents per mile. Most EVs use 27 to 33 kWh per 100 miles, and at the U.S. average residential rate of about 18.8 cents per kWh, driving 100 miles costs near $5.65 in electricity.
That rate is the national average reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration in early 2026; your local rate and your car's efficiency move the number up or down. Charging overnight on a 240-volt Level 2 connection is where almost all owners see these low costs.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV or fill up with gas?
Charging is cheaper — usually less than half the cost. Home charging runs about 5 to 6 cents per mile, while a 30-mpg gas car at the mid-2026 national average near $4.07 a gallon costs about 13.6 cents per mile. That makes electricity roughly 2.4 times cheaper per mile than gasoline.
The gap widens for efficient EVs and shrinks for thirsty electricity markets, but at typical U.S. rates and the AAA national gas average, home charging wins clearly. The catch is that the savings assume you charge mostly at home, not at premium public stations.
How much does public DC fast charging cost, and why is it more?
Public DC fast charging costs about 31 to 64 cents per kWh — often two to three times the home rate. Networks such as Electrify America (about $0.43–$0.64) and EVgo (about $0.34–$0.56) charge for the speed and hardware, and some states bill by the minute, so slower-charging cars pay more per kWh.
Fast charging is built for road trips, not daily use. Leaning on it can erase most of the savings over gas, so the cheapest ownership pattern is overnight home charging with fast charging reserved for travel.
How do I calculate my own EV charging cost?
Use two simple formulas. Multiply your car's kWh per 100 miles by your electricity rate for the cost per 100 miles, or multiply battery size in kWh by your rate for a full charge. At 30 kWh per 100 miles and 18.8 cents per kWh, that is about $5.65 per 100 miles.
- Cost per 100 miles = (kWh per 100 mi) × (your $/kWh).
- Full charge = (battery kWh) × (your $/kWh).
- Add about 10–15% for charging losses — the EPA's MPGe ratings already account for the energy lost between the wall and the battery.
How much does charging add to my monthly electric bill?
A typical EV adds about $35 to $60 a month to a home electricity bill, versus roughly $120 to $180 a month in gasoline for a comparable car. The exact amount depends on how far you drive, your local rate, and whether you charge on Level 1 (3 to 7 miles of range per hour) or Level 2 (about 25).
Is charging cheaper than gas in every state?
Yes. In 2026, charging at home is cheaper than filling up in all 50 states, though the margin varies. Residential electricity rates range from about 10 to 35 cents per kWh, so drivers in low-rate states save the most, while high-rate states still beat gasoline — just by less.
If your utility offers a lower overnight or time-of-use rate, scheduling charging for those hours widens the savings further. We cover the broader running-cost picture in how to judge a used car and reliability.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fully charge an EV?
About $8 to $19 at home for most electric cars, based on a 27 to 33 kWh per 100 miles efficiency and the U.S. average electricity rate near 18.8 cents per kWh. Public fast charging costs noticeably more.
Is public fast charging worth it?
It is convenient for road trips but costs about 31 to 64 cents per kWh — often two to three times home charging — so relying on it erases most of the savings versus charging at home overnight.
Does charging an EV raise your electric bill a lot?
It adds about $35 to $60 a month for a typical driver, which is usually far less than the $120 to $180 a month the same person would spend on gasoline for a comparable car.
Sources
CarsLens is editorial guidance, not individualized advice. This page draws on the U.S. Energy Information Administration, EPA fuel-economy testing, and the AAA national gas average.