Cost
Is an EV cheaper than gas?
Fuel cost per mile, electric against gas, with current prices for every state and province.
Quick answer
Yes, if you charge at home. At U.S. average prices, a typical electric car costs about 5.6¢ a mile to charge at home. A 28-mpg gas car costs about 12.1¢ a mile. At 1,000 miles a month that’s about $56 against $121: $65 a month less.
Not if you only use fast chargers. Public fast charging at about $0.54/kWh (the national average) works out to about 16.4¢ a mile, more than gas.
Cost per mile, U.S. average
EV charged at home
5.6¢ a mile
$0.184/kWh, 3.3 mi/kWh
Gas car (28 mpg)
12.1¢ a mile
$3.38/gallon
EV on fast chargers only
16.4¢ a mile
$0.54/kWh average (Paren)
Most EV owners charge mostly at home and use fast chargers on road trips, so their real cost sits close to the home figure. Your own mix is what the free EV readiness check works out.
By state
Charging at home is cheaper than gas in every state. The gap is biggest in Nevada (about $98 a month) and smallest in Hawaii (about $7). Fast charging alone beats gas in no state.
| State | Electricity | Gas | EV at home | Gas car | Fast charging | Saving a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $0.168/kWh | $3.18/gal | 5.1¢/mi | 11.4¢/mi | 14.8¢/mi ($0.49) | $63 |
| Alaska | $0.282/kWh | $3.89/gal | 8.5¢/mi | 13.9¢/mi | 16.4¢/mi ($0.54) | $53 |
| Arizona | $0.152/kWh | $3.45/gal | 4.6¢/mi | 12.3¢/mi | 16.4¢/mi ($0.54) | $77 |
| Arkansas | $0.144/kWh | $3.12/gal | 4.4¢/mi | 11.1¢/mi | 15.5¢/mi ($0.51) | $68 |
| California | $0.333/kWh | $4.87/gal | 10.1¢/mi | 17.4¢/mi | 18.5¢/mi ($0.61) | $73 |
| Colorado | $0.162/kWh | $3.41/gal | 4.9¢/mi | 12.2¢/mi | 15.2¢/mi ($0.50) | $73 |
| Connecticut | $0.274/kWh | $3.58/gal | 8.3¢/mi | 12.8¢/mi | 18.8¢/mi ($0.62) | $45 |
| Washington, D.C. | $0.254/kWh | $3.58/gal | 7.7¢/mi | 12.8¢/mi | 19.7¢/mi ($0.65) | $51 |
| Delaware | $0.194/kWh | $3.29/gal | 5.9¢/mi | 11.8¢/mi | 17.4¢/mi ($0.57) | $59 |
| Florida | $0.152/kWh | $3.38/gal | 4.6¢/mi | 12.1¢/mi | 15.2¢/mi ($0.50) | $75 |
| Georgia | $0.158/kWh | $3.22/gal | 4.8¢/mi | 11.5¢/mi | 15.2¢/mi ($0.50) | $67 |
| Hawaii | $0.520/kWh | $4.61/gal | 15.8¢/mi | 16.5¢/mi | 26.6¢/mi ($0.88) | $7 |
| Idaho | $0.124/kWh | $3.44/gal | 3.8¢/mi | 12.3¢/mi | 14.8¢/mi ($0.49) | $85 |
| Illinois | $0.239/kWh | $3.52/gal | 7.2¢/mi | 12.6¢/mi | 16.1¢/mi ($0.53) | $53 |
| Indiana | $0.182/kWh | $3.28/gal | 5.5¢/mi | 11.7¢/mi | 16.7¢/mi ($0.55) | $62 |
| Iowa | $0.141/kWh | $3.19/gal | 4.3¢/mi | 11.4¢/mi | 13.6¢/mi ($0.45) | $71 |
| Kansas | $0.151/kWh | $3.14/gal | 4.6¢/mi | 11.2¢/mi | 15.2¢/mi ($0.50) | $66 |
| Kentucky | $0.150/kWh | $3.21/gal | 4.5¢/mi | 11.5¢/mi | 17.0¢/mi ($0.56) | $69 |
| Louisiana | $0.142/kWh | $3.10/gal | 4.3¢/mi | 11.1¢/mi | 17.3¢/mi ($0.57) | $68 |
| Maine | $0.286/kWh | $3.48/gal | 8.7¢/mi | 12.4¢/mi | 19.1¢/mi ($0.63) | $38 |
| Maryland | $0.218/kWh | $3.37/gal | 6.6¢/mi | 12.0¢/mi | 16.7¢/mi ($0.55) | $54 |
| Massachusetts | $0.288/kWh | $3.54/gal | 8.7¢/mi | 12.6¢/mi | 16.4¢/mi ($0.54) | $39 |
| Michigan | $0.220/kWh | $3.35/gal | 6.7¢/mi | 12.0¢/mi | 15.2¢/mi ($0.50) | $53 |
| Minnesota | $0.170/kWh | $3.28/gal | 5.2¢/mi | 11.7¢/mi | 14.8¢/mi ($0.49) | $66 |
| Mississippi | $0.162/kWh | $3.09/gal | 4.9¢/mi | 11.0¢/mi | 15.2¢/mi ($0.50) | $61 |
| Missouri | $0.137/kWh | $3.15/gal | 4.2¢/mi | 11.3¢/mi | 13.9¢/mi ($0.46) | $71 |
| Montana | $0.147/kWh | $3.46/gal | 4.5¢/mi | 12.4¢/mi | 16.4¢/mi ($0.54) | $79 |
| Nebraska | $0.136/kWh | $3.20/gal | 4.1¢/mi | 11.4¢/mi | 12.8¢/mi ($0.42) | $73 |
| Nevada | $0.136/kWh | $3.89/gal | 4.1¢/mi | 13.9¢/mi | 17.6¢/mi ($0.58) | $98 |
| New Hampshire | $0.273/kWh | $3.44/gal | 8.3¢/mi | 12.3¢/mi | 17.9¢/mi ($0.59) | $40 |
| New Jersey | $0.233/kWh | $3.31/gal | 7.1¢/mi | 11.8¢/mi | 20.5¢/mi ($0.68) | $48 |
| New Mexico | $0.141/kWh | $3.28/gal | 4.3¢/mi | 11.7¢/mi | 15.8¢/mi ($0.52) | $74 |
| New York | $0.299/kWh | $3.62/gal | 9.1¢/mi | 12.9¢/mi | 16.7¢/mi ($0.55) | $39 |
| North Carolina | $0.151/kWh | $3.24/gal | 4.6¢/mi | 11.6¢/mi | 15.5¢/mi ($0.51) | $70 |
| North Dakota | $0.136/kWh | $3.18/gal | 4.1¢/mi | 11.4¢/mi | 14.5¢/mi ($0.48) | $72 |
| Ohio | $0.195/kWh | $3.27/gal | 5.9¢/mi | 11.7¢/mi | 16.1¢/mi ($0.53) | $58 |
| Oklahoma | $0.134/kWh | $3.08/gal | 4.1¢/mi | 11.0¢/mi | 15.8¢/mi ($0.52) | $69 |
| Oregon | $0.163/kWh | $3.78/gal | 4.9¢/mi | 13.5¢/mi | 15.5¢/mi ($0.51) | $86 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.216/kWh | $3.49/gal | 6.5¢/mi | 12.5¢/mi | 16.7¢/mi ($0.55) | $59 |
| Rhode Island | $0.295/kWh | $3.51/gal | 8.9¢/mi | 12.5¢/mi | 16.7¢/mi ($0.55) | $36 |
| South Carolina | $0.162/kWh | $3.18/gal | 4.9¢/mi | 11.4¢/mi | 16.4¢/mi ($0.54) | $64 |
| South Dakota | $0.157/kWh | $3.22/gal | 4.8¢/mi | 11.5¢/mi | 14.2¢/mi ($0.47) | $67 |
| Tennessee | $0.145/kWh | $3.17/gal | 4.4¢/mi | 11.3¢/mi | 15.2¢/mi ($0.50) | $69 |
| Texas | $0.164/kWh | $3.09/gal | 5.0¢/mi | 11.0¢/mi | 15.5¢/mi ($0.51) | $61 |
| Utah | $0.130/kWh | $3.42/gal | 3.9¢/mi | 12.2¢/mi | 15.2¢/mi ($0.50) | $83 |
| Vermont | $0.249/kWh | $3.47/gal | 7.5¢/mi | 12.4¢/mi | 14.2¢/mi ($0.47) | $48 |
| Virginia | $0.176/kWh | $3.28/gal | 5.3¢/mi | 11.7¢/mi | 17.3¢/mi ($0.57) | $64 |
| Washington | $0.150/kWh | $3.91/gal | 4.5¢/mi | 14.0¢/mi | 15.2¢/mi ($0.50) | $94 |
| West Virginia | $0.168/kWh | $3.31/gal | 5.1¢/mi | 11.8¢/mi | 16.7¢/mi ($0.55) | $67 |
| Wisconsin | $0.197/kWh | $3.29/gal | 6.0¢/mi | 11.8¢/mi | 15.5¢/mi ($0.51) | $58 |
| Wyoming | $0.148/kWh | $3.35/gal | 4.5¢/mi | 12.0¢/mi | 18.2¢/mi ($0.60) | $75 |
By province (Canada)
In Canadian dollars, per kilometre, against a gas car using 8.4 L/100 km, at 1,600 km a month.
| Province | Electricity | Gas | EV at home | Gas car | Saving a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $0.258/kWh | $1.37/L | 4.9¢/km | 11.5¢/km | $107 |
| British Columbia | $0.114/kWh | $1.65/L | 2.1¢/km | 13.9¢/km | $187 |
| Manitoba | $0.106/kWh | $1.46/L | 2.0¢/km | 12.2¢/km | $164 |
| New Brunswick | $0.143/kWh | $1.58/L | 2.7¢/km | 13.3¢/km | $169 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $0.140/kWh | $1.67/L | 2.6¢/km | 14.0¢/km | $182 |
| Northwest Territories | $0.385/kWh | $1.74/L | 7.2¢/km | 14.6¢/km | $118 |
| Nova Scotia | $0.196/kWh | $1.59/L | 3.7¢/km | 13.4¢/km | $155 |
| Nunavut | $0.640/kWh | $1.88/L | 12.1¢/km | 15.8¢/km | $60 |
| Ontario | $0.158/kWh | $1.48/L | 3.0¢/km | 12.4¢/km | $151 |
| Prince Edward Island | $0.185/kWh | $1.59/L | 3.5¢/km | 13.4¢/km | $158 |
| Quebec | $0.078/kWh | $1.55/L | 1.5¢/km | 13.0¢/km | $185 |
| Saskatchewan | $0.179/kWh | $1.50/L | 3.4¢/km | 12.6¢/km | $147 |
| Yukon | $0.187/kWh | $1.66/L | 3.5¢/km | 13.9¢/km | $167 |
Questions
Is it cheaper to charge an electric car than to buy gas?
At home, yes, in every state. At U.S. average prices a typical EV costs about 5.6¢ a mile to charge at home, against 12.1¢ for a 28-mpg gas car.
Is an EV cheaper than gas if you only use fast chargers?
Usually not. Public fast charging averages $0.54 per kWh nationally (Paren, Q3 2026), about 16.4¢ a mile, more than the 12.1¢ a 28-mpg gas car costs at the U.S. average gas price. At each state's average fast-charging price, it costs more than gas in every state.
Where does an EV save the least over gas?
Hawaii, where electricity costs $0.520 per kWh. Charging at home there still saves about $7 a month over a 28-mpg car at 1,000 miles.
Does this include the price of the car?
No. These figures are fuel only: electricity against gas. Purchase price, insurance and maintenance differ by car, which is why the free check looks at your own driving and charging.
What would you actually save?
Averages hide the things that decide it: how far you drive, where you can charge and your local rate. Answer 5 quick questions and see your own cost against gas.
Check your EV readiness →Go deeper
Fuel only: purchase price, insurance and maintenance are not included, and neither are charging losses (about 10–15%). “Typical EV” is the median all-electric car in our catalogue (3.3 mi/kWh). Electricity: EIA average residential rates, May 2026; Canadian rates from provincial utilities and regulators. Gas: EIA state averages (U.S.) and NRCan provincial averages (Canada). Fast-charging prices: average at all stations by state, from Paren, State of the US Fast Charging Industry Report, Q3 2026 (data as of September 30, 2026); U.S. only.