How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV vs Fill Up with Gas? (2026)

One of the most common questions people ask before buying an electric car is straightforward: how much does it cost to charge an electric car compared to filling up with gas? The answer depends on where you charge, what electricity rate you pay, and how efficient your EV is. But in most cases, charging an EV at home costs significantly less per mile than gasoline -- and the gap is wider than many people expect.

This guide breaks down the real numbers for every charging scenario in 2026, including home Level 2 charging, public DC fast charging, and gasoline. We will cover state-by-state electricity rate differences, time-of-use strategies, and the often-overlooked costs of installing a home charger.

EV Charging Cost Per Mile: The Quick Summary

Before diving into the details, here is the bottom line. The table below compares the cost per mile for a typical EV (rated at 27 kWh per 100 miles, which is representative of vehicles like the Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Equinox EV, and Hyundai Ioniq 6) against a typical gas car getting 32 miles per gallon.

The key takeaway: home EV charging costs roughly 60% less per mile than gasoline. Public fast charging, on the other hand, is roughly equivalent to gas on a per-mile basis -- sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the network and pricing.

Understanding the Three Levels of EV Charging

Not all EV charging is created equal. The cost, speed, and convenience vary dramatically depending on the type of charger you use. Here is how each level works and what it costs.

Level 1 Charging (120V Standard Outlet)

Level 1 charging uses the standard 120-volt household outlet that every home already has. It is the slowest option, adding roughly 3 to 5 miles of range per hour, which means a full charge from near-empty could take 40 to 60 hours.

Despite the slow speed, Level 1 charging costs the same per kWh as Level 2 home charging because you are drawing from the same residential electricity rate. At the national average of $0.16 per kWh, Level 1 charging costs about $0.04 per mile. The only difference is time.

Level 1 can work for people who drive fewer than 30 to 40 miles per day, since overnight charging at 120V recovers roughly 30-40 miles. But for most EV owners, upgrading to a Level 2 charger at home makes a significant difference in daily convenience.

Level 2 Charging (240V Home Charger)

Level 2 is the standard for home EV charging. It uses a 240-volt outlet (the same type your dryer or oven uses) and adds roughly 25 to 30 miles of range per hour. A full charge from near-empty typically takes 6 to 10 hours, making overnight charging easy and practical.

At the average U.S. residential electricity rate of $0.16 per kWh, a typical EV with an efficiency of 27 kWh per 100 miles costs about $0.04 per mile to charge at home. That works out to roughly $4.30 for every 100 miles, or about $43 to drive 1,000 miles.

For comparison, driving those same 1,000 miles in a 32 MPG gas car at $3.20 per gallon costs $100. That is a savings of roughly $57 per 1,000 miles, or about $680 per year for someone driving the U.S. average of 12,000 miles annually.

DC Fast Charging (Public Stations)

DC fast chargers (also called Level 3 or DCFC) are the high-powered public stations you find along highways and in commercial areas. They can charge an EV from 10% to 80% in 20 to 40 minutes, making them essential for road trips.

The trade-off is price. Public DC fast charging networks like Electrify America, ChargePoint, EVgo, and Tesla Superchargers typically charge between $0.30 and $0.50 per kWh, with some stations in high-cost areas exceeding $0.50. At these rates, an EV with 27 kWh/100 mi efficiency costs between $0.08 and $0.14 per mile.

At the upper end, DC fast charging can actually cost more per mile than gasoline. This is why the vast majority of experienced EV owners reserve fast charging for road trips and rely on home charging for daily driving.

The 80/20 Rule: How Most EV Owners Actually Charge

One of the most important things to understand about EV ownership is the 80/20 charging pattern: roughly 80% of charging happens at home, and only about 20% happens at public stations. This ratio is critical because it means your real-world cost per mile will be much closer to the home charging rate than the public fast charging rate.

Using the 80/20 split with the rates above, a blended cost per mile looks like this:

• 80% home charging at $0.04/mile = $0.032
• 20% public DCFC at $0.12/mile = $0.024
• Blended average: about $0.056/mile

That blended rate of roughly $0.06 per mile is still about 40% cheaper than gasoline at $0.10 per mile. Over 12,000 miles per year, that is a savings of approximately $480 annually in fuel costs alone.

State-by-State Electricity Rates: Where EVs Save the Most (and Least)

Electricity prices vary enormously across the United States, and this has a direct impact on how much you save by driving an EV. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive states is more than threefold.

States with the Cheapest Electricity (Best for EV Savings)

In states like Washington and Idaho, where hydroelectric power keeps rates low, home EV charging can cost as little as 3 cents per mile. That means driving 1,000 miles costs about $32 -- compared to $100 for gasoline.

States with the Most Expensive Electricity

Even in the most expensive mainland states, home EV charging still saves 24% to 30% compared to gasoline. The only state where EVs can cost more to "fuel" than gas cars is Hawaii, where electricity rates are exceptionally high due to imported fuel for power generation. However, Hawaii also has some of the highest gas prices in the nation, so the comparison is more nuanced there.

Time-of-Use Rates: How to Lower Your EV Charging Cost Even Further

Many utilities across the country offer time-of-use (TOU) rate plans that charge less for electricity during off-peak hours, typically overnight between 9 PM and 6 AM. Since most EV owners charge while they sleep, TOU plans can reduce charging costs significantly.

For example, a utility might charge $0.20/kWh during peak afternoon hours but only $0.08 to $0.10/kWh during off-peak hours. At $0.09/kWh on a TOU plan, your EV charging cost drops to just $0.024 per mile -- a 76% savings over gasoline.

Here is how to take advantage of TOU rates:

• Check with your utility: Call or visit your electric company's website and ask about EV-specific or time-of-use rate plans. Many utilities now offer dedicated EV rates.
• Set your car's charge timer: Nearly every modern EV lets you schedule charging to start at a specific time. Set it to begin during off-peak hours.
• Use your charger's scheduling feature: Many Level 2 home chargers also have built-in scheduling through their apps.
• Consider a separate meter: Some utilities offer a dedicated EV meter at a lower rate. The installation cost may be worth it if you drive a lot.

Home Charger Installation: The Upfront Cost to Consider

While home charging is the cheapest way to fuel an EV, there is an upfront cost to install a Level 2 charger. Here is what to expect:

• Level 2 charger unit: $300 to $700 for a quality home EVSE (e.g., ChargePoint Home Flex, Grizzl-E, Emporia, or Tesla Wall Connector)
• Electrical installation: $200 to $1,500 depending on your home's electrical panel capacity and the distance from the panel to your garage
• Total typical cost: $500 to $2,000

If your electrical panel is in or near your garage and has available capacity, installation can be as simple and affordable as running a new 240V circuit -- often under $500 for the electrician's work. If your panel needs upgrading or the wiring run is long, costs will be at the higher end.

Even at the high end of $2,000, the installation pays for itself relatively quickly. At a savings of roughly $57 per 1,000 miles compared to gas, a driver covering 12,000 miles per year recoups the installation cost in about 3 years. After that, the fuel savings are pure money in your pocket.

What About Free Charging?

It is worth mentioning that many EV owners have access to free charging in certain situations:

• Workplace charging: A growing number of employers offer free Level 2 charging in office parking lots as an employee perk.
• Retail and hotel chargers: Many shopping centers, grocery stores, and hotels offer free Level 2 charging to attract customers.
• Manufacturer promotions: Some automakers include free Supercharging or fast charging credits with a new vehicle purchase.

Free charging obviously brings the cost per mile to zero, but it should not be the primary factor in your decision. It is a nice bonus, not a reliable long-term strategy, since employers and businesses can change their policies at any time.

EV Charging Cost vs Gas: The Annual Picture

Let's put it all together. For a driver covering 12,000 miles per year (the U.S. average), here is what annual fuel costs look like:

In the best case -- a cheap electricity state with a time-of-use plan -- an EV owner can spend as little as $292 per year on fuel, compared to $1,200 for gasoline. That is a savings of over $900 per year, or more than $75 per month.

The Bottom Line: EV Charging Is Almost Always Cheaper Than Gas

The numbers tell a clear story. If you charge at home -- which is how the vast majority of EV owners handle their daily driving -- an electric car costs roughly 60% less to fuel than a comparable gas car. Even when you factor in some public fast charging for road trips, the blended cost is still about 40% cheaper.

The main variables that affect your savings are your local electricity rate, whether you can take advantage of time-of-use pricing, and how much public fast charging you need. In states with cheap electricity, the savings are dramatic. In states with expensive electricity, EVs still save money on fuel, just not as dramatically.

The one scenario where EVs lose the fuel cost advantage is exclusive reliance on public DC fast charging at premium rates. But since the overwhelming majority of EV owners charge at home most of the time, this scenario is uncommon in practice.

If you are considering an EV and wondering whether the fuel savings are real, they are. For most drivers in most states, switching from gasoline to home EV charging will save between $500 and $900 per year in fuel costs alone -- and that is before accounting for the additional savings on maintenance, which we cover in our EV maintenance cost guide.