EV Charging Cost in California (2026)
What California drivers actually pay to charge at home, by EV model, with the state’s average rate filled in for you.
At California’s average residential rate of about 31.8¢/kWh, charging a typical EV at home costs about $91 a month for 1,000 miles, versus about $47 at the 16.5¢/kWh US average. That is roughly 9.1¢ per mile, nearly double the US average. Enter your own rate below for an exact figure.
Need public charging or battery details? Full calculator →
You’d save about — a year vs gas in California.
Monthly charging cost in California, by EV model
At 31.8¢/kWh and 1,000 miles a month. Tap a model for its full page.
| EV model | Battery | Per charge | Per month | Per 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 75 kWh | $23.85 | $90.86 | $9.09 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 58 kWh | $18.29 | $79.50 | $7.95 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 84 kWh | $26.71 | $99.38 | $9.94 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 91 kWh | $28.94 | $106.00 | $10.60 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | 85 kWh | $27.03 | $99.38 | $9.94 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 98 kWh | $31.16 | $151.43 | $15.14 |
| Kia EV6 | 84 kWh | $26.71 | $96.36 | $9.64 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 82 kWh | $26.08 | $102.58 | $10.26 |
| Honda Prologue | 85 kWh | $27.03 | $106.00 | $10.60 |
| Tesla Cybertruck | 123 kWh | $39.11 | $132.50 | $13.25 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 77 kWh | $24.61 | $81.54 | $8.15 |
| Rivian R1S | 135 kWh | $42.93 | $138.26 | $13.83 |
California vs its neighbors
California electricity rates for EV owners
At about 31.8¢/kWh, California has the 2nd-highest residential rate in the country. California runs high on a mix of wildfire-hardening costs, clean-energy mandates, and some of the steepest delivery charges in the country.
Your own utility’s rate may differ from the state average. The calculator above is editable, so enter the number from your bill for an exact figure.
Charge overnight to pay less: scheduling your charging for off-peak hours can drop your real cost per mile well below the state average. Our Time-of-Use calculator does that math.
California EV charging questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV in California?+−
At California’s average residential rate of about 31.8¢/kWh, charging a typical EV at home costs about $91 a month for 1,000 miles, roughly 9.1¢ per mile. A full charge of a 75 kWh battery runs about $23.85.
Is charging an EV cheap in California?+−
California sits above the US average of 16.5¢/kWh, so home charging costs more than in low-rate states. At about 9.1¢ per mile it still undercuts the roughly 11¢ per mile a 28-mpg gas car costs.
What does public fast charging cost in California?+−
Public DC fast charging typically runs 40–50¢/kWh across the US, about 2.5 times a typical home rate. It is fine for road trips and expensive as a routine. Home charging on California’s 31.8¢ rate is the cheaper habit.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV or buy gas in California?+−
Charging at home wins in California: about 9.1¢ per mile versus roughly 11¢ per mile for a 28-mpg gas car at the $3.20/gallon national average, which saves about $281 a year at 1,000 miles a month. Local gas prices shift the exact gap.
California rate: EIA residential average (2026 example value). EV efficiency: EPA ratings. Table assumes 1,000 miles/month, home charging. Estimates only. Full methodology →