EV Charge Charging a Tesla Model 3 at home in Iowa costs about $50 per 1,000 miles, or $0.050 per mile, at the state’s average residential rate of 17.06¢ per kWh (August 2026). A full charge from empty runs about $15.60.
Iowa ranks #23 of 51 for electricity prices (1 = most expensive), so this is below the U.S. average of $54 per 1,000 miles for the same car. A 30-mpg gas car would spend about $144 on fuel for those 1,000 miles at Iowa’s $4.33 a gallon, so home charging saves roughly $94 every 1,000 miles.
Home charging vs Supercharger vs gas in Iowa
| Option | Price | Per 1,000 miles | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home, standard rate | 17.06¢/kWh | $50 | $606 |
| Tesla Supercharger (non-member avg.) | $0.55/kWh | $162 | $1,949 |
| Gas car, 30 mpg | $4.33/gal | $144 | $1,732 |
Supercharging a Tesla Model 3 in Iowa costs about 3.2 times as much as charging at home. Most owners use it on road trips, not every day.
Cost by electric utility in Iowa
| Utility | Est. rate | 1,000 miles (Tesla Model 3) | Full charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interstate Power and Light | 22.79¢ | $67 | $20.83 |
| MidAmerican Energy | 14.02¢ | $41 | $12.82 |
| Eastern Iowa Light & Power Coop | 17.26¢ | $51 | $15.78 |
| Iowa Lakes Electric Coop | 17.54¢ | $52 | $16.03 |
| Midland Power Coop | 17.32¢ | $51 | $15.83 |
Tesla Model 3 vs other EVs in Iowa
| EV | kWh/100 mi (EPA) | Per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 27.5 | $47 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 29.6 | $50 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 31.7 | $54 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | 32.6 | $56 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 33.6 | $57 |
| Kia EV9 | 43.0 | $73 |
| Rivian R1S | 44.4 | $76 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 47.9 | $82 |
Tesla Model 3 charging cost in states near Iowa
| State | ¢/kWh | Per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 13.54 | $40 |
| South Dakota | 15.15 | $45 |
| Missouri | 16.02 | $47 |
| Iowa | 17.06 | $50 |
| Minnesota | 17.20 | $51 |
| Illinois | 19.32 | $57 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41 | $57 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fully charge a Tesla Model 3 in Iowa?
About $15.60 from empty to full at home, using Iowa’s average rate of 17.06¢ 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 $9.36.
Is it cheaper to charge a Tesla Model 3 than to buy gas in Iowa?
Yes at home: $50 vs $144 per 1,000 miles for a 30-mpg car. At a Supercharger it is not: $162 per 1,000 miles.
How much does a Tesla Model 3 add to an electric bill in Iowa?
Driving 1,000 miles a month adds about $50 to a Iowa electric bill, or $50 a month at 12,000 miles a year.
How can I charge a Tesla Model 3 cheaper in Iowa?
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 Iowa · 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
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- 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.
