Cost to Charge a Tesla Model 3 (RWD)
Updated September 2026 · U.S. average rates
The short answer: at the national average rate, a full home charge of the Tesla Model 3 (RWD) (60 kWh usable, ~272 miles of range) costs about $11.27 — 4.5¢ per mile, or $44.71 per 1,000 miles. The same charge at a public DC fast charger runs roughly $25.80. Versus a 32-mpg gas car, home charging saves about $53.73 per 1,000 miles.
Living with a Tesla Model 3 (RWD): the cost story
The RWD Model 3 uses an LFP (iron-phosphate) battery, which changes daily habits in a way few owners expect: Tesla actually recommends charging it to 100% regularly rather than the 80% ceiling most EVs live with. That means the full rated range is genuinely usable every morning, and the cost math on this page reflects a battery you can brim without guilt.
It's also one of the most efficient cars on sale at any price, so it forgives expensive electricity better than almost anything else — even at California rates it undercuts a frugal hybrid. Native access to the Supercharger network keeps road-trip pricing more predictable than the patchwork CCS networks most rivals depend on.
Cheapest & most expensive states for the Tesla Model 3 (RWD)
Cheapest
- North Dakota$7.47 full · 3.0¢/mi
- Idaho$7.73 full · 3.1¢/mi
- Utah$7.80 full · 3.1¢/mi
- Wyoming$7.87 full · 3.1¢/mi
- Louisiana$8.07 full · 3.2¢/mi
Most expensive
- Hawaii$28.07 full · 11.1¢/mi
- Connecticut$21.53 full · 8.5¢/mi
- California$21.20 full · 8.4¢/mi
- Massachusetts$20.80 full · 8.3¢/mi
- Rhode Island$20.27 full · 8.0¢/mi
Tesla Model 3 (RWD) charging speed & home charger
Cost does not depend on speed — a kWh is a kWh — but time does. These estimates use the Tesla Model 3 (RWD)'s onboard AC limit (11.5 kW) and its typical DC fast-charging peak (~250 kW); real sessions taper as the battery fills.
Home charger sizing: the Tesla Model 3 (RWD) tops out at 11.5 kW on AC, so a 48-amp charger on a 60-amp circuit reaches its limit — a bigger unit adds nothing. Overnight (8 hours) on Level 2 restores about 272 miles, more than most daily driving. See Level 1 vs Level 2 and how many kWh it takes to charge an EV.
Run it for your state
Using Texas's average residential rate (15.6¢/kWh) · national average 16.9¢ · includes ~10% AC charging losses. Rates vary by utility and plan — your bill is the source of truth.