EV Charging Cost Calculator

Find out exactly how much it costs to charge your electric car — by vehicle, location, and charging habits. Real data, no guesswork.

75 kWh battery · 4 mi/kWh EPA

miles
100 miles5,000 miles
$0.271/kWh

Based on your selected region average residential rate

Home L280%
Public L210%
DC Fast10%

Monthly Charging Cost

$81.14

250 kWh/month

Annual Cost

$973.65

5-Year Cost

$4,868

vs Gas (monthly)

Save $73.86

Gas: $155.00/mo

Annual Savings vs Gas

+$886.35

vs BMW 3 Series

🌱 CO₂ Saved / Year

2.4 tons

110 trees planted

Monthly Cost Breakdown

Home L2$54.20
Public L2$16.94
DC Fast$10.00

EV vs Gas Cost Comparison

Tesla Model 3 Long Range vs BMW 3 Series

🗺️ Find EV Chargers Near You

Locate nearby charging stations with real-time data from Open Charge Map.

Filters:|Radius:

What affects your EV charging cost?

Three things drive your monthly EV charging bill more than anything else: where you live, how you charge, and which car you drive. Get those right and you can cut your energy costs dramatically compared to gas.

Electricity rates vary wildly by location. A driver in Louisiana pays around $0.10/kWh while someone in California pays $0.27/kWh — nearly 3× more. That same 1,000-mile month costs $25 in Louisiana and $68 in California. Where you plug in matters.

Home charging is almost always the cheapest option. Public Level 2 stations typically charge 2–3× your home rate. DC fast chargers can run 4–5× more. If you can charge at home overnight, you'll spend a fraction of what apartment dwellers pay. The "Apartment Dweller" preset above shows what that scenario looks like.

Vehicle efficiency is the multiplier. A Tesla Model 3 gets about 4 miles per kWh. A large truck like the F-150 Lightning gets closer to 2.3 miles per kWh. Same electricity rate, nearly double the cost. Efficiency matters more than battery size.

The good news: even in high-cost scenarios, EVs almost always beat gas on fuel costs. The average US driver saves $800–$1,500/year just on fuel — before factoring in lower maintenance costs.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla at home?

Charging a Tesla Model 3 at home costs roughly $10–$20/month for average US drivers (1,000 miles/month), depending on your state electricity rate. California drivers pay around $18, while Washington state drivers pay closer to $8.

Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or at a public station?

Home charging is almost always cheaper — typically 2–3× less than public Level 2 stations and 3–5× less than DC fast chargers. Public stations charge a markup for convenience and infrastructure costs.

How much electricity does an EV use per month?

A typical EV driving 1,000 miles/month uses roughly 250–350 kWh, depending on the vehicle efficiency. That's about 25–35% of an average US household's monthly electricity usage.

What is the average cost per kWh in the US?

The US national average residential electricity rate is around $0.16/kWh as of 2025, but it varies widely — from $0.10/kWh in Louisiana to $0.39/kWh in Hawaii.

How do EV charging costs compare to gas?

Most EV drivers save $800–$1,500/year compared to a similar gas vehicle. At $0.16/kWh and $3.50/gallon, driving 1,000 miles in an EV costs about $40 vs $117 in a 30 MPG gas car.

How much does it cost to use a public EV charger?

Public Level 2 chargers typically cost $0.20–$0.40/kWh in the US. DC fast chargers run $0.30–$0.60/kWh. Some networks charge per minute instead of per kWh.

Which EV is the cheapest to charge?

The most efficient EVs — like the Tesla Model 3 RWD, Hyundai IONIQ 6, and Lucid Air — use the least electricity per mile, making them cheapest to charge. Efficiency matters more than battery size.

Related tools

Recommended Home EV Chargers

Affiliate links

We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links — at no extra cost to you.