How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
Short answer: At the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh (January–July 2026), a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $5.77 per 100 miles charged at home, counting 10% charging losses. Driving 40 miles a day, that is about $69.30 a month. A 30 mpg gasoline car at $3.20 a gallon costs about $10.67 per 100 miles.
How the cost is worked out
Cost per 100 miles = 100 ÷ efficiency (miles per kWh) ÷ 0.9 × price per kWh. The 0.9 accounts for the roughly 10% lost between the wall and the battery on a Level 2 charger (Level 1 loses a little more). Efficiency is on your car's screen or at fueleconomy.gov, where the EPA lists it as kWh per 100 miles: 30 kWh/100 mi is 3.3 mi/kWh.
Cost by vehicle efficiency
At the U.S. average price, 1,200 miles a month (40 a day):
| Efficiency | Typical vehicle | Per 100 miles | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mi/kWh | Full-size electric pickup or SUV | $8.08 | $97.01 |
| 3.0 mi/kWh | Large SUV | $6.74 | $80.84 |
| 3.5 mi/kWh | Midsize crossover | $5.77 | $69.30 |
| 4.0 mi/kWh | Efficient sedan or small crossover | $5.05 | $60.63 |
| 4.5 mi/kWh | Most efficient sedans | $4.49 | $53.90 |
Cost in every state
3.5 mi/kWh, 40 miles a day, at each state's average residential price. "Cheaper than gas" compares with a 30 mpg car at $3.20 a gallon ($10.67 per 100 miles); adjust both for your own car and local pump price.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per 100 miles | Per month | Cheaper than gas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.36 | $3.92 | $47.09 | 2.7× |
| Nebraska | 12.90 | $4.10 | $49.14 | 2.6× |
| Idaho | 12.96 | $4.11 | $49.37 | 2.6× |
| Utah | 13.16 | $4.18 | $50.13 | 2.6× |
| Louisiana | 13.35 | $4.24 | $50.86 | 2.5× |
| Nevada | 13.53 | $4.30 | $51.54 | 2.5× |
| Oklahoma | 13.58 | $4.31 | $51.73 | 2.5× |
| Arkansas | 13.61 | $4.32 | $51.85 | 2.5× |
| Tennessee | 13.87 | $4.40 | $52.84 | 2.4× |
| Montana | 13.95 | $4.43 | $53.14 | 2.4× |
| Wyoming | 13.95 | $4.43 | $53.14 | 2.4× |
| Missouri | 13.96 | $4.43 | $53.18 | 2.4× |
| Iowa | 14.20 | $4.51 | $54.10 | 2.4× |
| Kentucky | 14.27 | $4.53 | $54.36 | 2.4× |
| Washington | 14.40 | $4.57 | $54.86 | 2.3× |
| South Dakota | 14.50 | $4.60 | $55.24 | 2.3× |
| North Carolina | 14.94 | $4.74 | $56.91 | 2.2× |
| New Mexico | 15.08 | $4.79 | $57.45 | 2.2× |
| Mississippi | 15.19 | $4.82 | $57.87 | 2.2× |
| Kansas | 15.21 | $4.83 | $57.94 | 2.2× |
| Florida | 15.30 | $4.86 | $58.29 | 2.2× |
| Georgia | 15.40 | $4.89 | $58.67 | 2.2× |
| Oregon | 15.40 | $4.89 | $58.67 | 2.2× |
| Arizona | 15.44 | $4.90 | $58.82 | 2.2× |
| West Virginia | 15.47 | $4.91 | $58.93 | 2.2× |
| South Carolina | 15.93 | $5.06 | $60.69 | 2.1× |
| Texas | 16.06 | $5.10 | $61.18 | 2.1× |
| Minnesota | 16.25 | $5.16 | $61.90 | 2.1× |
| Alabama | 16.54 | $5.25 | $63.01 | 2.0× |
| Colorado | 16.72 | $5.31 | $63.70 | 2.0× |
| Virginia | 16.83 | $5.34 | $64.11 | 2.0× |
| Indiana | 17.04 | $5.41 | $64.91 | 2.0× |
| Delaware | 17.86 | $5.67 | $68.04 | 1.9× |
| Ohio | 18.70 | $5.94 | $71.24 | 1.8× |
| Wisconsin | 19.00 | $6.03 | $72.38 | 1.8× |
| Illinois | 19.22 | $6.10 | $73.22 | 1.7× |
| Pennsylvania | 21.04 | $6.68 | $80.15 | 1.6× |
| Maryland | 21.30 | $6.76 | $81.14 | 1.6× |
| Michigan | 21.53 | $6.83 | $82.02 | 1.6× |
| Vermont | 23.95 | $7.60 | $91.24 | 1.4× |
| New Jersey | 23.98 | $7.61 | $91.35 | 1.4× |
| District of Columbia | 24.66 | $7.83 | $93.94 | 1.4× |
| New Hampshire | 26.79 | $8.50 | $102.06 | 1.3× |
| Alaska | 27.09 | $8.60 | $103.20 | 1.2× |
| Connecticut | 27.97 | $8.88 | $106.55 | 1.2× |
| Rhode Island | 29.22 | $9.28 | $111.31 | 1.1× |
| New York | 29.38 | $9.33 | $111.92 | 1.1× |
| Maine | 29.99 | $9.52 | $114.25 | 1.1× |
| Massachusetts | 30.14 | $9.57 | $114.82 | 1.1× |
| California | 33.25 | $10.56 | $126.67 | 1.0× |
| Hawaii | 46.28 | $14.69 | $176.30 | 0.7× |
Paying less than the average
- Time-of-use rates. Many utilities sell overnight power at a third to half of the peak price. Schedule charging after midnight in the car or charger app.
- EV plans. Some utilities offer a separate EV rate or a rebate on a Level 2 charger. Check your utility's website before buying the charger.
- Level 1 is fine for short commutes. A 120 V outlet adds about 4–5 miles an hour, around 40–50 miles overnight. No new circuit needed.
Calculate cost and circuit size for your car