EV Charging Savings Calculator: Home vs. Public vs. Gas
An EV driver who does all of their charging at public Level 2 stations pays about $616 more per year than charging at home, and up to $786 more depending on the state. At U.S. state averages, home charging costs about half as much per mile as public Level 2 charging. If you already drive an EV, this calculator shows exactly how much you're leaving on the table.
If you're thinking about switching from a gas car to an EV, this tool shows your real annual savings based on your state's actual electricity rate and AAA's current average gas price, not generic national averages.
EV Charging Savings Calculator
Already have an EV? See how much you're leaving on the table at public stations. Thinking of going electric? See your total savings vs. gas.
Why Home Charging Is Almost Always the Cheapest Option
The economics of EV ownership depend heavily on where you charge. Most EV owners dramatically underestimate how much public charging is costing them, and how quickly a home Level 2 charger pays for itself.
Home electricity costs between $0.13 per kWh (Nevada) and $0.53 per kWh (Hawaii), and averages $0.19 across U.S. states. 44 of 50 states fall between $0.14 and $0.30. This calculator uses public Level 2 rates of $0.32 to $0.58 per kWh by state, with $0.38 as the typical rate. DC fast charging usually costs more than Level 2. When you run the math on annual mileage, that gap compounds quickly.
Example: Tesla Model Y in Massachusetts
Driving 250 miles per week (13,000 miles/year) at 3.8 miles/kWh:
All home charging at $0.296/kWh → ~$1,013/year
80% home / 20% public at $0.48/kWh → ~$1,139/year
Gas car at 28 MPG at $4.18/gallon → ~$1,940/year
Switching to all-home charging saves ~$927/year vs. gas, enough to pay for a quality Level 2 charger in 12–18 months.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Level 2 Home Charger?
The total cost of a Level 2 home EV charger installation typically runs $1,000–$3,500 all-in for most homes, including equipment and electrical work:
- Charger unit: $400–$800 for a quality 40–48 amp Level 2 charger (ChargePoint Home Flex, Grizzl-E, Tesla Wall Connector)
- Electrician labor + permit: $400–$1,200 depending on your panel and wiring run
- Panel upgrade (if needed): $1,000–$4,000, only required for older homes without capacity for a dedicated 240V circuit
Most straightforward installs (existing 200-amp panel, charger mounted in the garage near the breaker box) land in the $900–$1,500 range total. The wide upper end reflects long conduit runs, outdoor weatherproofing, or panel upgrade scenarios.
Incentives: Utility incentives and rebates may be available in your area. Check your utility’s website or the DOE’s state incentive database for current programs.
At the U.S. state average savings of $1,195 a year vs. gas, a typical $900 to $1,500 install pays for itself in about 9 to 15 months, then keeps saving you money every year after that.
Home vs. Public Charging: When to Use Each
When Public Charging Makes Sense
- Road trips and long-distance travel. DC fast charging is the right tool here
- Emergency top-ups when you forgot to plug in at home
- Apartment or condo dwellers without home charging access
- Workplaces that offer free Level 2 charging (always take it)
When Home Charging Is the Right Answer
- Your normal daily commute and around-town driving
- Any session where you'll be parked for 4+ hours
- Overnight charging on a Level 2, the most cost-effective method available
- Time-of-use rate charging: many utilities offer lower rates during off-peak overnight hours
How to Maximize Your Home Charging Savings
1. Charge During Off-Peak Hours
Many utilities offer time-of-use (TOU) rate plans that charge significantly less for overnight electricity, typically midnight to 6 AM. In California, off-peak rates can be as low as $0.15/kWh vs. $0.45+ during peak hours. Most smart Level 2 chargers let you schedule charging to start automatically at midnight.
2. Pair with Solar Panels
If you have rooftop solar (or are considering it), charging your EV from your own solar production effectively brings your cost per mile to nearly zero. Our Solar + EV Charging guide explains how to set this up.
3. Size Your Charger Correctly
A common mistake is buying more charger than you need. A 32-amp Level 2 charger adds roughly 25 miles of range per hour, enough for most daily drivers to fully charge overnight. Our How Many Amps Does My EV Charger Need? guide covers this in detail.
4. Check for Utility Rebates
Many electric utilities offer rebates of $100–$500 for installing a Level 2 charger. Check your utility's website or the DOE's state incentive database for current programs in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Home EV charging costs approximately $0.03 to $0.14 per mile depending on your state's electricity rate and your vehicle's efficiency. For a typical EV driving 12,000 miles per year, annual home charging costs range from $414 to $1,665, compared to $1,453 to $2,531 for the equivalent gas vehicle fuel cost at today's prices. The U.S. state average is $610 a year for home charging vs. $1,806 for gas.
Home charging is almost always cheaper. Home electricity averages $0.19 per kWh across U.S. states (ranging from $0.13 to $0.53), while public Level 2 charging typically costs about $0.38 per kWh, so home charging costs about half as much per mile. Charging only at public Level 2 stations costs about $616 more per year on average than charging at home. DC fast charging usually costs more than Level 2.
Charging at home instead of buying gas saves about $1,195 per year at the U.S. state average, for 12,000 miles a year compared with a 28 MPG car. Savings range from $762 in Hawaii to $1,831 in Nevada. Nevada and Washington drivers save the most because they combine low electricity rates with high gas prices. Hawaii, Rhode Island and Massachusetts save the least because their electricity rates are high.
Compared with a gas car, charging at home saves about $1,195 a year at the U.S. state average, so a typical $900 to $1,500 install pays for itself in about 9 to 15 months. If you already drive an EV and are replacing public charging, the payback depends on how much you charge in public: moving all of your charging from public Level 2 to home saves about $616 a year on average. Utility incentives and rebates may be available in your area, which can shorten the payback.
The cheapest way to charge an EV is at home overnight using a Level 2 charger on a time-of-use electricity rate plan. Off-peak overnight electricity rates in many states are 30–50% cheaper than standard rates. If you have solar panels, charging from your own solar production is even cheaper.
Yes, but typically less than people expect. A typical EV driving 12,000 miles per year adds about 3,160 kWh a year. At the U.S. state average rate of $0.193/kWh, that's about $610 added to your electric bill per year, still significantly less than the $1,453 to $2,531 you'd spend on gasoline for the same mileage at current prices.
States with the lowest home electricity rates include Nevada ($0.131/kWh), Nebraska ($0.133/kWh), Utah ($0.134/kWh), Louisiana ($0.135/kWh), and Tennessee ($0.141/kWh). Hawaii and California have the highest rates at $0.527 and $0.347/kWh respectively, making the economics more dependent on solar or time-of-use rates.
Home EV Charging Cost by State (2026)
The table below shows exactly what it costs to charge an EV at home in every U.S. state, and how much you save vs. keeping a gas car. All figures use current U.S. EIA residential electricity rates (latest available state-level data) and AAA gas price averages (updated November 1, 2026), calculated for a typical EV driving 12,000 miles per year at 3.8 miles/kWh (Tesla Model Y EPA rating) vs. a 28 MPG gas vehicle. Sorted cheapest to most expensive home charging cost.
Key takeaways (November 2026)
- At the U.S. state average, charging an EV at home costs $610 a year, compared with $1,806 for a 28 MPG gas car, a saving of $1,195 a year.
- Cheapest state to charge at home: Nevada, $414 a year at 13.11¢/kWh. Most expensive: Hawaii, $1,665 a year at 52.72¢/kWh.
- Biggest savings vs. gas: Nevada ($1,831) and Washington ($1,759). Smallest: Hawaii ($762) and Rhode Island ($840).
- Massachusetts: $935 a year to charge at home vs. $1,791 for gas, a saving of $855.
- Home charging costs about 5.1¢ per mile on average, compared with about 10¢ at public Level 2 and 15¢ for gas.
Data compiled by Charge Pro Direct from U.S. EIA residential electricity rates and AAA state gas price averages (November 1, 2026). Averages are simple averages of the 50 state figures.
| State | Home Rate ¢/kWh |
Gas Price $/gallon |
EV Home annual cost |
Gas Car annual cost |
You Save EV vs. gas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 13.11¢ | $5.24 | $414 | $2,245 | $1,831 |
| Nebraska | 13.25¢ | $4.18 | $418 | $1,790 | $1,372 |
| Utah | 13.37¢ | $4.55 | $422 | $1,952 | $1,529 |
| Louisiana | 13.49¢ | $3.71 | $426 | $1,591 | $1,165 |
| Tennessee | 14.07¢ | $3.72 | $444 | $1,595 | $1,150 |
| Arkansas | 14.12¢ | $3.77 | $446 | $1,617 | $1,171 |
| North Dakota | 14.12¢ | $4.04 | $446 | $1,731 | $1,285 |
| Kentucky | 14.26¢ | $3.90 | $450 | $1,671 | $1,221 |
| Oklahoma | 14.33¢ | $3.82 | $453 | $1,637 | $1,185 |
| Idaho | 14.37¢ | $4.54 | $454 | $1,947 | $1,493 |
| North Carolina | 14.74¢ | $3.39 | $465 | $1,453 | $988 |
| Mississippi | 14.88¢ | $3.78 | $470 | $1,620 | $1,150 |
| Washington | 14.91¢ | $5.20 | $471 | $2,230 | $1,759 |
| New Mexico | 15.06¢ | $4.12 | $476 | $1,766 | $1,290 |
| Florida | 15.10¢ | $3.87 | $477 | $1,658 | $1,181 |
| Montana | 15.14¢ | $4.31 | $478 | $1,849 | $1,370 |
| Arizona | 15.18¢ | $4.43 | $479 | $1,897 | $1,418 |
| Wyoming | 15.24¢ | $4.35 | $481 | $1,864 | $1,383 |
| South Dakota | 15.36¢ | $4.12 | $485 | $1,764 | $1,279 |
| West Virginia | 15.45¢ | $4.17 | $488 | $1,786 | $1,298 |
| South Carolina | 15.55¢ | $3.67 | $491 | $1,572 | $1,081 |
| Kansas | 15.71¢ | $3.90 | $496 | $1,670 | $1,174 |
| Iowa | 15.93¢ | $4.03 | $503 | $1,726 | $1,223 |
| Texas | 15.94¢ | $3.65 | $503 | $1,564 | $1,060 |
| Missouri | 16.22¢ | $3.85 | $512 | $1,649 | $1,136 |
| Oregon | 16.32¢ | $4.80 | $515 | $2,055 | $1,540 |
| Georgia | 16.36¢ | $3.58 | $517 | $1,536 | $1,019 |
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $3.74 | $518 | $1,602 | $1,084 |
| Colorado | 17.13¢ | $4.22 | $541 | $1,807 | $1,266 |
| Virginia | 17.22¢ | $3.96 | $544 | $1,699 | $1,155 |
| Indiana | 17.51¢ | $3.82 | $553 | $1,638 | $1,085 |
| Minnesota | 17.52¢ | $4.09 | $553 | $1,752 | $1,199 |
| Ohio | 19.19¢ | $4.15 | $606 | $1,778 | $1,172 |
| Delaware | 19.29¢ | $3.95 | $609 | $1,693 | $1,083 |
| Wisconsin | 19.56¢ | $4.26 | $618 | $1,825 | $1,208 |
| Illinois | 19.89¢ | $4.72 | $628 | $2,022 | $1,394 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.73¢ | $4.43 | $686 | $1,900 | $1,213 |
| Maryland | 21.84¢ | $3.99 | $690 | $1,710 | $1,021 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $4.55 | $726 | $1,949 | $1,223 |
| Connecticut | 24.32¢ | $4.25 | $768 | $1,822 | $1,054 |
| Vermont | 24.44¢ | $4.32 | $772 | $1,851 | $1,080 |
| New Jersey | 24.95¢ | $4.13 | $788 | $1,770 | $982 |
| New Hampshire | 27.01¢ | $4.17 | $853 | $1,787 | $934 |
| Alaska | 28.21¢ | $4.77 | $891 | $2,045 | $1,155 |
| Rhode Island | 29.23¢ | $4.11 | $923 | $1,763 | $840 |
| New York | 29.49¢ | $4.34 | $931 | $1,862 | $930 |
| Maine | 29.59¢ | $4.25 | $934 | $1,823 | $888 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61¢ | $4.18 | $935 | $1,791 | $855 |
| California | 34.74¢ | $5.91 | $1,097 | $2,531 | $1,434 |
| Hawaii | 52.72¢ | $5.66 | $1,665 | $2,427 | $762 |
Sources: U.S. EIA residential electricity rates (latest available state-level data) and AAA State Gas Price Averages (November 1, 2026). Assumes 12,000 miles/year, 3.8 mi/kWh efficiency, 28 MPG gas vehicle, 100% home charging. Actual savings depend on your vehicle, driving patterns, and local rates. Updated monthly.
How we calculate
Home charging cost = annual miles ÷ EV efficiency (miles per kWh) × your state's residential electricity rate. Gas cost = annual miles ÷ MPG × your state's average gas price. Savings = gas cost minus home charging cost.
The state table uses 12,000 miles a year, 3.8 miles per kWh (Tesla Model Y EPA rating), a 28 MPG gas car and 100% home charging. Electricity rates are U.S. EIA residential state averages (latest available state-level data). Gas prices are AAA state averages. Public Level 2 rates are Charge Pro Direct estimates of typical regional pricing, from $0.32 to $0.58 per kWh, with $0.38 used where we have no state-specific figure. U.S. averages on this page are simple averages of the 50 state figures. Results are estimates; your utility rate plan, vehicle and driving will change your numbers.
Compiled and maintained by the Charge Pro Direct team. We drive a Tesla Model Y and charge it at home with a Level 2 charger, rooftop solar and a Franklin home battery.
Related Guides from Charge Pro Direct
- Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. DC Fast Charging: What's the Difference?
- How Many Amps Does My EV Charger Actually Need?
- Free EV Charger Install Quote: Done Online, Right From Your Phone
Ready to Start Saving?
At average gas and electricity prices, a typical Level 2 home charger install pays for itself in about 9 to 15 months, then saves you money every year after that.