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Total cost of owning each car
Cost breakdown
Estimates only. Default prices: AAA state gas averages (October 2026) and EIA residential electricity rates (July 2026; California April 2026). Maintenance defaults from U.S. Department of Energy estimates. Your costs depend on your car, rates and driving.
Is an electric car actually cheaper to run than a gas car? For most drivers in 2026, yes — by roughly $1,000 to $1,500 a year when you charge at home. But the real answer depends on your local gas price, your electricity rate, how far you drive and where you charge.
That is exactly what our EV vs gas cost calculator works out. Enter a few numbers and it shows your cost per mile, your yearly and lifetime savings, and how many years it takes an EV to pay back a higher sticker price.
Gas prices make this question urgent. AAA reported a national average of $4.41 a gallon on October 1, 2026, after a record-setting September that averaged $4.33 — about $1.25 more than a year earlier (AAA).
Quick Answer: EV vs Gas Cost per Mile (2026 National Averages)
| Cost per mile | Gas car (30 mpg) | EV, home charging | EV, mostly public fast charging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel / electricity | 14.6¢ | 5.8¢ | 15.2¢ |
| Maintenance | 10¢ | 6¢ | 6¢ |
| Total per mile | 24.6¢ | 11.8¢ | 21.2¢ |
Assumes $4.37/gal gas, 18.3¢/kWh home electricity, 48¢/kWh public DC fast charging, 3.5 mi/kWh and 10% charging losses. Use the calculator above for your own numbers.
How the EV vs Gas Cost Calculator Works
The calculator compares the two cars on cost per mile, then multiplies by how far you drive. Here is what each input means and where to find your number.
| Input | What it means | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Miles per year | Your annual driving | Last two odometer readings or service receipts |
| Gas price ($/gal) | Regular unleaded where you live | AAA state averages or your last receipt |
| Gas car MPG | Combined fuel economy | Window sticker or fueleconomy.gov |
| Electricity rate (¢/kWh) | What you pay per kWh at home | Your utility bill: total charges ÷ kWh used |
| EV efficiency (mi/kWh) | Miles per kilowatt-hour | EV window sticker (100 ÷ kWh per 100 miles) |
| Home charging share (%) | How much charging happens at home | Your own habit; 80% is typical for homeowners |
| Public charging price (¢/kWh) | DC fast charger cost | Your charging network app |
| Maintenance per mile | Oil, brakes, tires, fluids | Defaults: 10¢ gas, 6¢ EV |
The Formulas
Gas fuel cost per mile:
EV charging cost per mile, with charging losses included:
The blended price mixes home and public charging by your home share. Charging efficiency is about 90% for a Level 2 home charger, because some energy is lost as heat.
Yearly savings and break-even:
Worked Example: 12,000 Miles a Year at 2026 Prices
An EV charged at home saves this driver about $1,530 a year, or roughly $12,250 over eight years. Here is the math using current national averages.
The inputs: regular gas at $4.37 a gallon (AAA daily average, early October 2026), home electricity at 18.3¢ per kWh (the U.S. residential average is running about 18.3–18.4¢ in 2026, per EIA data compiled by ChooseEnergy), a 30 mpg gas sedan and an EV that gets 3.5 miles per kWh.
| Yearly cost (12,000 miles) | Gas car | EV, 100% home charging | EV, 80% home / 20% fast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel or electricity | $1,748 | $697 | $924 |
| Maintenance | $1,200 | $720 | $720 |
| Total per year | $2,948 | $1,417 | $1,644 |
| Savings vs gas | — | $1,531 | $1,304 |
| Savings over 8 years | — | $12,248 | $10,432 |
The maintenance figures use the Department of Energy estimate of about 6¢ per mile for an EV versus about 10¢ for a gas car (CarBuzz summary of DOE and Consumer Reports data).
EV vs Gas Costs by State: Where You Live Changes Everything
The same EV can save $1,200 a year in California but barely $400 in Hawaii. Gas and electricity prices vary far more by state than most people expect.
Residential power ranged from 12.72¢ per kWh in Louisiana to 48¢ in Hawaii in July 2026 (ChooseEnergy). Gas ranged from about $3.79 in Indiana to $6.40 in California in early October (ChooseEnergy gas report).
| State | Gas $/gal | Home power ¢/kWh | Gas car fuel/yr | EV home charging/yr | Fuel savings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $6.40 | 35.3¢ | $2,560 | $1,343 | $1,217 |
| Louisiana | $3.97 | 12.7¢ | $1,588 | $485 | $1,103 |
| Texas | $3.94 | 15.9¢ | $1,576 | $605 | $971 |
| Hawaii | $5.63 | 48.0¢ | $2,252 | $1,829 | $423 |
Fuel only, 12,000 miles, 30 mpg vs 3.5 mi/kWh with 10% charging losses. California power is the April 2026 EIA figure; others are July 2026.
The lesson: cheap electricity matters as much as expensive gas. Louisiana drivers save nearly as much as Californians because their power is so cheap. In Hawaii, high electricity prices erase most of the fuel gap — unless you charge from rooftop solar.
Home Charging vs Public Fast Charging
Where you charge is the single biggest swing factor in EV running costs. At 48¢ per kWh, an EV that relies on DC fast charging costs about 15.2¢ per mile in electricity — slightly more than a 30 mpg gas car at today’s prices.
Public charging is cheaper in some places: AAA’s summer 2026 report listed Kansas, Missouri and Maryland among the cheapest states for public charging, at roughly 30–33¢ per kWh (AAA). Fast chargers on highway networks usually cost more.
Ways to cut charging costs:
- Charge at home overnight. A Level 2 charger (240V) is the cheapest, most convenient option.
- Use a time-of-use (TOU) plan. Many utilities charge much less after 9 or 10 p.m. Enter your off-peak rate in the calculator.
- Look for free workplace charging. Even two days a week cuts your cost noticeably.
- Join a charging network’s membership plan if you fast-charge often; monthly plans usually lower the per-kWh price.
- Pair your EV with solar. Your effective rate can drop well below the grid price.
If you rent and can’t charge at home, set the calculator’s home charging share low and use your local public price. That number tells you honestly whether an EV makes sense for you.
Costs Beyond Fuel: Maintenance, Insurance and Tax Credits
Fuel is only part of the picture. These factors can widen or shrink your savings.
Maintenance: EVs Cost About 40–50% Less
EVs have no oil changes, spark plugs, timing belts or exhaust parts. Regenerative braking also makes brake pads last much longer. Consumer Reports estimated lifetime maintenance and repair at about $4,600 for an EV versus $9,200 for a gas car (CarBuzz).
Two exceptions: EV tires often wear faster because the cars are heavy and torquey, and out-of-warranty battery repairs can be expensive.
Insurance: Often Higher for EVs
EVs can cost more to insure because of higher purchase prices and pricier repairs. Get quotes for both cars before you buy, and factor the difference into your yearly costs.
Federal EV Tax Credit in 2026: Gone
The $7,500 federal credit for new EVs and the $4,000 credit for used EVs ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. The federal home-charger credit (Section 30C) also ended for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026 (CleanEnergyCalc).
State and utility incentives still exist. California, New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, Oregon and Washington are among the states that still run their own rebates or tax breaks (EV Global). Subtract any incentive from the EV price premium before you calculate break-even.
Purchase Price and Resale Value
The fuel and maintenance savings above only matter if the EV’s price premium is reasonable. Use the break-even result: if payback takes longer than you plan to keep the car, the gas model may be the better buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to charge an EV than to buy gas?
Yes, in most U.S. states, if you charge at home. At 2026 national averages, home charging costs about 5.8¢ per mile versus about 14.6¢ per mile for a 30 mpg gas car. Relying mostly on public fast charging can erase that advantage.
How much does it cost to fully charge an electric car?
Multiply your battery size by your electricity rate, then add about 10% for charging losses. A 75 kWh battery at 18.3¢ per kWh costs roughly $15 to charge from empty at home. Most people top up from 20% to 80%, which costs less.
How many miles a year do I need to drive for an EV to save money?
The more you drive, the faster an EV pays off. At 12,000 miles a year with home charging, savings are about $1,500 a year; at 6,000 miles, they’re roughly half that. Enter your mileage in the calculator to see your break-even point.
Can I still get the $7,500 EV tax credit?
No. The federal new-EV and used-EV credits ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. Check your state and utility for remaining rebates.
Are EVs cheaper to maintain than gas cars?
Yes. Estimates put EV maintenance at about 6¢ per mile versus about 10¢ for gas cars, mainly because EVs skip oil changes and wear brakes more slowly.
Does cold weather change the calculation?
Yes. EVs can lose a meaningful share of their range in freezing weather, which raises cost per mile in winter. If you live somewhere cold, lower the miles-per-kWh input by 15–20% for a conservative estimate.
The Bottom Line
With gas above $4 a gallon, an EV charged at home costs less than half as much per mile as a typical gas car. The savings shrink if you depend on fast chargers, live where electricity is expensive, or drive very little — and the end of the federal tax credit makes the purchase-price gap matter more than it used to.
That’s why a personal calculation beats any national average. Plug your own gas price, electricity rate and mileage into the EV vs gas cost calculator above to see your real cost per mile, yearly savings and break-even point.
Prices last updated October 6, 2026. Gas and electricity prices change often, so we refresh the defaults regularly.
Sources
- AAA: National Average Dips Following Record-Setting September — gas prices, October 2026
- AAA: National Average Drops Below $4/Gallon — public charging prices by state
- ChooseEnergy: Electricity Rates by State — July 2026 EIA residential rates
- ChooseEnergy: Gas Prices by State, October 2026
- NRG Clean Power: Average Electric Bill in California — April 2026 EIA rate
- CleanEnergyCalc: EV Tax Credits in 2026
- EV Global: What’s Left After the $7,500 Ended
- CarBuzz: Electric Cars vs Gas Cars Maintenance — DOE and Consumer Reports figures
