EV Charge Filling a Tesla Model Y from empty to full at home costs about $16 at the U.S. average electricity rate of 18.16¢ per kWh, enough for its 327 miles of EPA range. The same full charge costs least in Nevada and most in Hawaii, and the table below shows the full-range cost for 15 EVs.
Full-range cost for 15 EVs
| EV | EPA range (mi) | kWh to drive it | Nevada | U.S. average | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW i4 | 251 | 77 | $10 | $14 | $37 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 240 | 81 | $10 | $15 | $38 |
| Nissan Leaf | 288 | 86 | $11 | $16 | $41 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 291 | 87 | $11 | $16 | $41 |
| Tesla Model Y | 327 | 90 | $11 | $16 | $42 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 309 | 91 | $12 | $17 | $43 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 290 | 92 | $12 | $17 | $43 |
| Kia EV6 | 231 | 95 | $12 | $17 | $45 |
| Honda Prologue | 283 | 100 | $13 | $18 | $47 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | 307 | 100 | $13 | $18 | $47 |
| Kia EV9 | 260 | 112 | $14 | $20 | $53 |
| Cadillac Lyriq | 326 | 120 | $15 | $22 | $57 |
| Rivian R1S | 289 | 128 | $16 | $23 | $60 |
| Tesla Cybertruck | 325 | 139 | $18 | $25 | $66 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 320 | 153 | $20 | $28 | $72 |
Why the numbers look like this
A full charge is simply your battery’s energy multiplied by the price you pay per kWh, so two things drive the bill: the size of the battery and your local electricity rate. Bigger vehicles like trucks and three-row SUVs carry much larger batteries, so they cost more to fill even when they are efficient for their size. Electricity prices vary widely between states because of the fuels used to generate power, the cost of maintaining the grid and how utilities are regulated. States that rely on cheaper fuels and have lower grid costs end up with cheaper full charges, while isolated grids that depend on imported fuel sit at the top. In practice few drivers ever charge from zero, so a typical top-up costs only a fraction of the full-charge price. Over a year, a Model Y driven 12,000 miles costs about $599 to charge at home, compared with $1,732 for a 30-mpg gas car at $4.33 a gallon.
What you can do
- Charge overnight on a time-of-use or EV plan if your utility offers one; off-peak prices are usually lower than the average rate.
- Check the price per kWh on your own bill and enter it in the calculator instead of relying on the state average.
- Keep fast charging for road trips: public DC chargers usually cost more per kWh than charging at home.
- Charge to the level you actually need for the day rather than to full every night.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fully charge a Tesla Model Y?
About $16 at home at the U.S. average rate of 18.16¢ per kWh. That full charge covers the Model Y’s 327-mile EPA range.
Which state is cheapest for a full charge?
Nevada has the cheapest home electricity in our data, so a full charge costs the least there. Hawaii is the most expensive.
Is a full charge cheaper than a tank of gas?
Yes for most drivers charging at home. Over a year a Model Y costs about $599 to charge versus $1,732 in gas for a 30-mpg car, a saving of about $1,133.
Why do some EVs cost more to fill up?
Larger batteries simply hold more energy, so trucks and big SUVs cost more per full charge. Efficiency matters too, because a less efficient EV needs more energy for the same miles.
Does charging to full every night cost more?
You only pay for the energy you add, so topping up a little each night costs the same per mile as one big charge. Most owners charge to the level they need for daily driving.
Your bill depends on your own rate and miles. Put them in the EV charging cost calculator, or see every state in the cost by state table and the monthly price index.
Cite or embed this data
Journalists, bloggers and researchers are welcome to use these numbers. Please credit EV Charge Math with a link: EV Charge Math, “How Much Does a Full Charge Cost? 15 EVs Compared”, August 2026 data, https://evchargemath.com/cost-to-fully-charge-an-ev/
More EV charging data
- Cheapest states to charge an EV
- Most expensive states to charge an EV
- EV charging cost per month, by state
- EV charging cost per mile by state
- EV vs gas: fuel cost in every state
- Electricity cost per kWh by state
- How much it costs to charge a Tesla
- Tesla Supercharger cost by state
- How long it takes to charge an EV (Tesla and more)
- Level 2 charger installation cost by state
- EV charging cost by state (map)
- EV charging cost calculator
- Cost to charge every EV model
Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly, table 5.6.A; EIA gasoline prices; fueleconomy.gov (EPA). Method: how we calculate. Updated October 25, 2026.
