How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

The simple formula behind every EV charging cost

EV charging cost comes down to two variables: how efficient your car is (miles per kWh) and what you pay for electricity (dollars per kWh).

Most EVs get 3–4 miles per kWh. The U.S. average residential electricity rate is around $0.16/kWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That math works out to roughly $0.04–$0.05 per mile at home.

For comparison: a gas car averaging 28 mpg at $3.50/gallon costs about $0.13 per mile — roughly three times more.

To get your specific per-mile cost, find your EV’s kWh per 100 miles on the EPA window sticker, multiply by your electricity rate, then divide by 100. The EV Readiness Check uses your location to factor in your state’s actual electricity rate and give you a real per-mile estimate.

Cost of charging an electric car at home

Home charging is where the savings are. Because you’re drawing residential electricity — not paying a charging network markup — the rate is as low as it gets. And since 80% of EV charging happens at home, this number dominates your monthly cost.

Electricity prices vary significantly by state. Here’s what home charging actually costs across different rate environments, assuming a typical EV efficiency of 3.5 miles/kWh:

The California row is telling: even at $0.25/kWh flat rate, home EV charging costs $86/month — versus roughly $150 in gas for the same mileage in a 28 mpg car. Switch to a time-of-use plan and charge overnight, and the cost drops to the same $35 you’d pay in Washington state.

Monthly EV charging cost by how much you drive

The U.S. average is about 1,200 miles per month. But your actual number shifts the cost substantially. Here’s the breakdown at the U.S. average electricity rate of $0.16/kWh, compared to a 28 mpg gas car at $3.50/gallon:

Over a year, a 1,200-mile-per-month driver keeps roughly $1,100–$1,200 that would otherwise go to a gas station. The heavier the driver, the larger that number gets.

Not sure what your driving pattern looks like in EV terms? The EV Readiness Check walks through your mileage, home charging access, and local electricity rate to give you a concrete monthly cost estimate.

What public EV charging actually costs

DC fast charging on networks like Electrify America, EVgo, and Tesla Superchargers costs more than home charging — typically $0.40–$0.60/kWh, compared to $0.16/kWh at home. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center tracks public charging pricing trends across networks.

On a per-mile basis, public fast charging runs about $0.12–$0.17/mile — much closer to gas car costs. Some networks also charge session fees or idle fees on top of per-kWh pricing.

Here’s why this matters less than it sounds: for most EV owners, public fast charging covers road trips and the occasional emergency top-up — not daily driving. If 80% of your kWh comes from home and 20% from public stations, your weighted average cost stays close to the home rate. The economics only weaken significantly if you lack home or workplace charging and rely on public DCFC as your primary source.

How to lower your EV charging cost

Most EV owners can reduce their charging cost 30–50% with one step: enrolling in a time-of-use (TOU) rate plan through their utility and scheduling overnight charging.

TOU plans drop off-peak electricity (typically midnight to 6 a.m.) to $0.08–$0.10/kWh in most states. In California, where the standard flat rate can hit $0.25/kWh, overnight TOU rates drop to around $0.10/kWh — cutting monthly charging costs from $86 to roughly $35 for a 1,200-mile driver.

Most modern EVs let you set a charging schedule directly from the car’s touchscreen or companion app. You plug in when you arrive home; the car waits until your off-peak window opens, then charges automatically.

A few other moves worth making:

• Ask your utility about EV-specific rate plans — many offer dedicated EV rates lower than standard TOU.
• Charge to 80% daily rather than 100%. Charging slows above 80% and adds marginal range you likely won't use.
• Use free Level 2 charging at workplaces, grocery stores, and shopping centers when available — it adds up.

When EV charging costs more than expected

There are real situations where EV charging costs aren’t dramatically cheaper than gas. Worth knowing before you buy:

For a deeper look at the full cost comparison, see How Much You’ll Actually Save on Fuel vs Gas or run the numbers in the EV vs Gas Savings Calculator walkthrough.

More on EV costs

Charging is one line item in the bigger cost picture. These go deeper on the pieces that surround it:

• The $2,000 EV charger you might not need — Why a standard wall outlet is enough for a lot of drivers, and when a Level 2 install actually earns its cost.
• Is an electric car worth it? The honest math — Charging cost is one of three variables — this walks through all of them, including payback timelines.
• EV vs gas in daily life — Cost is only part of the comparison — this looks at what actually changes about your routine.
• The real cost of public EV charging — Per-minute billing, idle fees, and subscription math — what public charging actually costs once you look past the sticker rate.
• Are TOU rates worth it for EV owners? — Time-of-use plans can save $300–$600 a year on home charging, or raise your bill — the math depends on your whole household, not just the car.

Frequently asked questions