EV vs Gas: Cost per mile.
Real-time local utility rate integration for hyper-accurate operating cost. Pick a vehicle, dial in your state, see what each mile actually costs.
Annual fuel-cost projection
Per-mile economics, scaled out| Metric | Electric | Gasoline |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.049 | $0.137 |
| Cost per 100 miles | $4.86 | $13.67 |
| Monthly fuel cost | $49 | $137 |
| Annual fuel cost | $583 | $1,640 |
| Annual savings | $1,057 | |
Want the full picture? Compare total cost of ownership including purchase price, depreciation, maintenance, and insurance.
Open the full TCO calculatorHow to calculate EV cost per mile
The formula for electric car cost per mile is straightforward: take your EV's energy consumption (measured in kWh per 100 miles), divide by 100 to get kWh per mile, then multiply by your electricity rate in dollars per kWh.
For example, a Tesla Model 3 uses 26 kWh per 100 miles. At the U.S. average residential electricity rate of $0.18/kWh (EIA, early 2026), that's 0.26 × $0.18 = $0.047 per mile.
For gas cars, divide the price per gallon by your car's MPG. A 30 MPG car at $4.10/gallon (AAA national average, April 2026) costs $4.10 ÷ 30 = $0.137 per mile. That means the average EV costs roughly two-thirds less per mile to fuel than the average gas car at current prices.
Why EV cost per mile varies so much
Your actual EV cost per mile depends on three factors:
- Vehicle efficiency — ranges from 24 kWh/100mi (Hyundai Ioniq 6) to 48 kWh/100mi (F-150 Lightning). More efficient EVs cost about half as much per mile as less efficient ones.
- Electricity rate — varies from about $0.11/kWh in North Dakota to $0.41/kWh in Hawaii (EIA, early 2026). Charging at home during off-peak hours can be 30–50% cheaper than your standard rate.
- Charging source — home charging at $0.18/kWh costs about $0.05/mile, while DC fast charging at $0.35/kWh pushes costs to $0.09/mile, narrowing the gap with gas. For a detailed breakdown, see our EV charging cost vs gas analysis.
The full picture
Fuel cost per mile is the single biggest ongoing savings advantage for electric vehicles. But it's only one component of total cost of ownership. When you also factor in lower maintenance costs (about $600/year for EVs vs $1,200/year for gas), the per-mile cost advantage of EVs grows even wider.
However, EVs typically cost more upfront, depreciate slightly faster, and can cost more to insure. That's why the full EV vs Gas calculator compares all costs side by side over your ownership period — not just fuel.