EV Charge 
A Tesla Model 3 owner in California pays about $88 in electricity per 1,000 miles when charging at home, based on 29.75¢ per kWh, the EIA’s latest state average (August 2026). That’s $0.088 per mile and about $27.20 for a full charge.
California ranks #4 of 51 for electricity prices (1 = most expensive), so this is above the U.S. average of $54 per 1,000 miles for the same car. A 30-mpg gas car would spend about $203 on fuel for those 1,000 miles at California’s $6.10 a gallon, so home charging saves roughly $115 every 1,000 miles.
Home charging vs Supercharger vs gas in California
| Option | Price | Per 1,000 miles | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home, standard rate | 29.75¢/kWh | $88 | $1,056 |
| Tesla Supercharger (non-member avg.) | $0.74/kWh | $218 | $2,613 |
| Gas car, 30 mpg | $6.10/gal | $203 | $2,442 |
Supercharging a Tesla Model 3 in California costs about 2.5 times as much as charging at home. Most owners use it on road trips, not every day.
Cost by electric utility in California
| Utility | Est. rate | 1,000 miles (Tesla Model 3) | Full charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Gas & Electric | 36.87¢ | $109 | $33.71 |
| Southern California Edison | 30.18¢ | $89 | $27.59 |
| Los Angeles Department of Water & Power | 22.18¢ | $66 | $20.28 |
| San Diego Gas & Electric | 40.60¢ | $120 | $37.12 |
| Sacramento Municipal Util Dist | 16.63¢ | $49 | $15.20 |
Tesla Model 3 vs other EVs in California
| EV | kWh/100 mi (EPA) | Per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 27.5 | $82 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 29.6 | $88 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 31.7 | $94 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | 32.6 | $97 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 33.6 | $100 |
| Kia EV9 | 43.0 | $128 |
| Rivian R1S | 44.4 | $132 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 47.9 | $143 |
Tesla Model 3 charging cost in states near California
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fully charge a Tesla Model 3 in California?
About $27.20 from empty to full at home, using California’s average rate of 29.75¢ per kWh and the EPA rating of 29.6 kWh per 100 miles over a 309-mile range. Topping up from 20% to 80% costs roughly $16.32.
Is it cheaper to charge a Tesla Model 3 than to buy gas in California?
Yes at home: $88 vs $203 per 1,000 miles for a 30-mpg car. At a Supercharger it is not: $218 per 1,000 miles.
How much does a Tesla Model 3 add to an electric bill in California?
Driving 1,000 miles a month adds about $88 to a California electric bill, or $88 a month at 12,000 miles a year.
How can I charge a Tesla Model 3 cheaper in California?
Charge at home overnight, and ask your utility for a time-of-use or EV plan: off-peak prices are often well below the average rate used here. See our time-of-use guide.
More: EV charging cost in California · cost to charge a Tesla Model 3 in every state · EV charging cost calculator.
Cost to charge a Tesla Model 3 in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- All 50 states for the Tesla Model 3
Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly (August 2026); fueleconomy.gov (EPA, Model 3 Performance); DCFC Tracker (Superchargers); EIA gasoline prices. Method: how we calculate.
