EV Charging Cost vs Gas: Per-Mile Comparison for 2026

Your neighbor just bought an electric vehicle and claims they spend $40 a month on fuel. You spend $120 filling up your gas car every month. The gap sounds too good to be true, and sometimes it is. Where you charge, what you drive, and what your utility charges per kilowatt-hour all determine whether an EV actually saves you money. Use our EV Charging Cost Calculator to plug in your specific vehicle and local electricity rate, then read on to understand what drives the numbers.

What Is EV Charging Cost?

EV charging cost is what you pay in electricity to power an electric vehicle, measured per kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumed by the battery. The cost depends on two variables: your electricity price per kWh and your vehicle's efficiency, expressed in kWh per 100 miles.

Gasoline cost works the same way but with different units. You pay per gallon, and your vehicle's efficiency is measured in miles per gallon. The comparison between the two comes down to cost per mile driven.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports the national average residential electricity price was approximately $0.16 per kWh in early 2026. Regular gasoline averaged about $2.90 per gallon nationally during the same period, according to EIA petroleum data. These national averages mask significant regional variation, which we will get to shortly.

How to Calculate EV Charging Cost Per Mile

The formula for EV charging cost per mile is:

Cost per Mile = (Electricity Price per kWh + kWh per 100 Miles) / 100

For a typical EV consuming 30 kWh per 100 miles at the national average rate of $0.16 per kWh:

Cost per mile = ($0.16 x 30) / 100 = $0.048 per mile

Account for charging efficiency losses of 5 to 15 percent by multiplying by 1.05 to 1.15. A conservative adjustment gives:

Adjusted cost per mile = $0.048 x 1.10 = $0.053 per mile

For gasoline, the formula is simpler:

Cost per Mile = Gas Price per Gallon / Miles per Gallon

A car averaging 28 MPG at $2.90 per gallon:

Cost per mile = $2.90 / 28 = $0.104 per mile

Step-by-Step Example

Consider a driver in Texas comparing a Tesla Model Y (75 kWh battery, 310 miles range, approximately 32 kWh per 100 miles) to a Toyota RAV4 averaging 28 MPG. The driver covers 13,200 miles per year and charges at home on a standard residential rate of $0.13 per kWh.

EV annual charging cost:

• kWh per year = (13,200 miles / 100) x 32 = 4,224 kWh
• Annual cost = 4,224 x $0.13 = $549
• With 10% charging loss adjustment: $549 x 1.10 = $604

Gas annual fuel cost:

• Gallons per year = 13,200 / 28 = 471 gallons
• Annual cost = 471 x $2.90 = $1,366

Annual savings: $762

Over 7 years of ownership, that compounds to $5,334 in fuel savings alone, before factoring in maintenance differences.

Home Charging vs Public Charging vs DC Fast Charging

Where you charge matters more than any other variable in this calculation. The price spread between home and public charging is dramatic.

The Department of Energy maintains a consumer guide to home charging setup costs and electricity rate options. A Level 2 home charger (240V) typically costs $1,000 to $3,000 installed, including the charger unit, electrical work, and permits. At $1,000 in annual fuel savings, the charger pays for itself in 1 to 3 years.

Drivers who rely entirely on DC fast charging without a subscription pay close to what they would for gasoline. At $0.55 per kWh and 35 kWh per 100 miles (highway speeds increase consumption), the cost per mile reaches $0.193. A gas car averaging 32 MPG on the highway at $2.90 per gallon costs $0.091 per mile. In that specific scenario, gasoline wins.

EV Cost per Mile by Vehicle Type

Vehicle efficiency varies significantly across EV models. Larger batteries and heavier vehicles consume more electricity per mile.

Even the least efficient EVs on this list cost less per mile than their gas counterparts. The F-150 Lightning at $0.072 per mile undercuts a gas F-150 at $0.161 per mile by more than half.

Regional Electricity Rate Impact

Electricity rates vary by state more than gas prices do. A driver in Louisiana paying $0.10 per kWh spends $0.030 per mile in a typical EV. A driver in California paying $0.28 per kWh spends $0.084 per mile in the same vehicle. Both still beat gasoline, but the savings gap narrows considerably in high-rate states.

California drivers with access to time-of-use rates can charge overnight at $0.12 to $0.16 per kWh, which brings their cost per mile back in line with the national average. Check your utility's EV rate schedule before assuming you will pay the standard residential rate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One mistake is comparing a luxury EV's purchase price to an economy gas car and concluding EVs are not cost-effective. Compare vehicles in the same class and price tier. A Tesla Model 3 competes with a BMW 3 Series, not a Honda Civic. The EPA's fueleconomy.gov tool lets you compare specific vehicles side by side with personalized cost estimates based on your local fuel and electricity prices.

Another error is ignoring charging efficiency losses. The battery does not receive 100 percent of the energy drawn from the wall. Level 2 home charging runs 85 to 95 percent efficient. DC fast charging runs 80 to 90 percent. If your calculation says $0.045 per mile but you lose 10 percent to heat and conversion, your real cost is closer to $0.050.

A third mistake is assuming public charging costs the same as home charging. Drivers without home charging access who rely on public Level 2 or DC fast charging pay two to four times more per mile. If you cannot charge at home or at work, the financial case for an EV weakens considerably.

Related Tools on ProfessionCalculators.com

The EV Charging Cost Calculator compares home and public charging costs with your specific vehicle and local rates. These tools help with related energy decisions:

• Electricity Cost Calculator: Break down your monthly electricity usage and costs by appliance
• Solar Panel ROI Calculator: Model solar panel payback if you charge your EV with rooftop solar

For a deeper look at long-horizon energy investments, see our guide on solar panel ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?

At the national average electricity rate of $0.16 per kWh, a typical EV with a 75 kWh battery costs about $12 to $13 for a full charge from empty to full. Most drivers do not charge from empty, so daily top-ups cost $3 to $6. Monthly home charging costs for a driver covering 13,200 miles per year run $40 to $80, depending on local rates and vehicle efficiency.

Is public EV charging cheaper than gas?

Public Level 2 charging at $0.25 to $0.45 per kWh usually costs less per mile than gasoline. DC fast charging at $0.35 to $0.60 per kWh without a subscription can approach or exceed gasoline costs per mile, especially for less efficient EVs at highway speeds. Subscription passes from networks like Electrify America or EVgo reduce fast charging rates by roughly 25 percent for $4 to $10 per month.

Does an EV save money if I cannot charge at home?

The savings shrink significantly without home charging. If you rely entirely on public Level 2 charging at $0.35 per kWh, your cost per mile is about $0.105, roughly equal to a 28 MPG gas car at $2.90 per gallon. DC fast charging at $0.50 per kWh pushes cost per mile to $0.150, which exceeds gas for efficient vehicles. Home or workplace charging access is the single biggest factor in EV fuel savings.

How long does it take for an EV to pay for itself?

Fuel savings alone typically offset the EV price premium in 4 to 7 years for drivers with home charging access. The federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500 for new eligible vehicles and $4,000 for used vehicles shortens this period. Maintenance savings of 30 to 40 percent over 5 years, estimated by the Department of Energy, add further savings. Total cost of ownership over 10 years favors EVs for most drivers covering 12,000 or more annual miles.

Conclusion

EV charging costs less per mile than gasoline for the vast majority of US drivers in 2026, but the margin depends heavily on where you charge. Home charging at $0.04 to $0.05 per mile delivers savings of $700 to $1,000 annually compared to a 28 MPG gas car. Public fast charging narrows that gap to near parity. Before buying an EV, verify your home electricity rate, check whether your utility offers time-of-use pricing, and calculate your expected annual mileage. The EV Charging Cost Calculator handles the math for your specific vehicle and location.