EV Charging Cost in California
Updated September 2026 · average residential rates
The short answer: California's average residential electricity rate is 31.8¢/kWh — 88% above the U.S. average, ranking #49 cheapest of 51. A Tesla Model Y costs about $26.50 to fully charge at home here (9.1¢ per mile), and home charging saves roughly $7.84/month versus a comparable gas car at 1,000 miles.
What EV owners in California should know
California is the paradox state: the highest EV adoption in America and some of its most expensive electricity. The saving grace is structure — PG&E, SCE and SDG&E all offer EV-specific time-of-use plans with overnight rates far below the scary averages, and pairing charging with rooftop solar changes the math entirely. The state average shown here overstates what a well-configured EV household actually pays per mile.
Full-charge cost by model in California
| Vehicle | Full charge (home) | Per mile | Per 1,000 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 (RWD) | $21.20 | 8.4¢ | $84.13 |
| Tesla Model Y (Long Range) | $26.50 | 9.1¢ | $90.60 |
| Tesla Model S | $35.33 | 9.5¢ | $95.50 |
| Tesla Cybertruck (AWD) | $43.46 | 14.1¢ | $141.33 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | $30.03 | 10.4¢ | $103.92 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | $25.44 | 10.7¢ | $107.07 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | $34.63 | 16.1¢ | $160.61 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | $27.21 | 10.4¢ | $103.92 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | $27.21 | 8.8¢ | $88.33 |
| Kia EV6 | $27.21 | 9.8¢ | $98.15 |
| Kia EV9 | $35.33 | 12.6¢ | $126.19 |
| Nissan Ariya | $30.74 | 11.8¢ | $117.78 |
| Nissan Leaf | $21.20 | 10.4¢ | $103.92 |
| Rivian R1T | $47.70 | 14.7¢ | $147.22 |
| Rivian R1S | $47.70 | 15.4¢ | $153.62 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | $27.21 | 11.8¢ | $117.78 |
| BMW i4 | $28.62 | 10.1¢ | $100.95 |
| Lucid Air | $39.57 | 8.8¢ | $88.33 |
| Honda Prologue | $30.03 | 11.0¢ | $110.42 |
| Toyota bZ4X | $25.09 | 10.7¢ | $107.07 |
| Tesla Model X | $35.33 | 11.8¢ | $117.78 |
| Chevrolet Blazer EV | $30.03 | 11.8¢ | $117.78 |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | $60.07 | 14.7¢ | $147.22 |
| GMC Sierra EV | $60.07 | 14.7¢ | $147.22 |
| GMC Hummer EV | $72.43 | 22.1¢ | $220.83 |
| Cadillac Lyriq | $36.04 | 12.2¢ | $121.84 |
| Cadillac Optiq | $30.03 | 11.8¢ | $117.78 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | $22.97 | 9.8¢ | $98.15 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 | $38.87 | 12.2¢ | $121.84 |
| Kia Niro EV | $22.61 | 10.1¢ | $100.95 |
| BMW iX | $37.10 | 12.2¢ | $121.84 |
| BMW i5 | $28.62 | 10.7¢ | $107.07 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQB | $23.67 | 11.4¢ | $113.98 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE | $31.45 | 10.7¢ | $107.07 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS | $38.16 | 11.0¢ | $110.42 |
| Audi Q4 e-tron | $27.21 | 11.8¢ | $117.78 |
| Audi Q6 e-tron | $33.21 | 11.4¢ | $113.98 |
| Porsche Taycan | $31.45 | 11.8¢ | $117.78 |
| Porsche Macan Electric | $33.57 | 11.4¢ | $113.98 |
| Polestar 2 | $27.91 | 10.4¢ | $103.92 |
| Polestar 3 | $37.81 | 12.6¢ | $126.19 |
| Volvo EX40 | $27.91 | 11.0¢ | $110.42 |
| Volvo EX90 | $37.81 | 13.1¢ | $130.86 |
| Subaru Solterra | $25.09 | 11.0¢ | $110.42 |
| Lexus RZ | $25.09 | 11.4¢ | $113.98 |
| Volkswagen ID. Buzz | $30.39 | 13.6¢ | $135.90 |
| MINI Countryman SE | $22.61 | 11.4¢ | $113.98 |
| Fiat 500e | $14.84 | 9.8¢ | $98.15 |
| Dodge Charger Daytona EV | $32.86 | 12.2¢ | $121.84 |
| Jeep Wagoneer S | $32.86 | 11.8¢ | $117.78 |
| Acura ZDX | $36.04 | 12.2¢ | $121.84 |
| Genesis GV60 | $27.21 | 10.7¢ | $107.07 |
| Lucid Gravity | $39.57 | 10.7¢ | $107.07 |
| Chevrolet Bolt EV (2027) | $22.97 | 9.1¢ | $90.60 |
| Rivian R2 | $32.51 | 11.0¢ | $110.42 |
| Kia EV3 | $28.62 | 9.3¢ | $92.98 |
| Cadillac Escalade IQ | $70.67 | 16.1¢ | $160.61 |
| Cadillac Vistiq | $36.04 | 12.2¢ | $121.84 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA (electric) | $30.03 | 8.2¢ | $82.17 |
| Chevrolet Bolt EUV | $22.97 | 9.8¢ | $98.15 |
| BMW i3 (2019–2021) | $14.91 | 9.1¢ | $90.60 |
| BMW i7 | $35.93 | 12.2¢ | $121.84 |
| Audi e-tron GT | $34.27 | 12.2¢ | $121.84 |
| Audi Q8 e-tron | $37.45 | 14.1¢ | $141.33 |
| Audi A6 e-tron | $33.53 | 9.1¢ | $90.60 |
| Volvo EX30 | $22.61 | 9.1¢ | $90.60 |
| Polestar 4 | $33.21 | 11.0¢ | $110.42 |
| Genesis Electrified GV70 | $27.35 | 12.2¢ | $121.84 |
| Genesis Electrified G80 | $30.81 | 11.0¢ | $110.42 |
| Mercedes-Benz G580 (Electric G-Class) | $40.99 | 17.7¢ | $176.67 |
| MINI Cooper SE (Hardtop) | $10.21 | 9.8¢ | $98.15 |
| Fisker Ocean | $37.45 | 11.0¢ | $110.42 |
| VinFast VF 8 | $30.99 | 14.7¢ | $147.22 |
| Ford E-Transit | $31.45 | 19.6¢ | $196.30 |
| Kia EV4 | $27.56 | 9.1¢ | $90.60 |
| Toyota C-HR EV | $26.39 | 9.1¢ | $90.60 |
| Subaru Trailseeker | $26.39 | 10.1¢ | $100.95 |
| Jeep Recon | $35.33 | 14.1¢ | $141.33 |
Cost to charge a Tesla in California
Tesla is the most-searched brand, so here it is separately: home charging at 31.8¢/kWh versus typical Supercharger pricing (~2-3× home rates).
| Tesla | Full charge (home) | Per mile | Est. Supercharger full charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 (RWD) | $21.20 | 8.4¢ | $53.00 |
| Tesla Model Y (Long Range) | $26.50 | 9.1¢ | $66.25 |
| Tesla Model S | $35.33 | 9.5¢ | $88.33 |
| Tesla Cybertruck (AWD) | $43.46 | 14.1¢ | $108.65 |
| Tesla Model X | $35.33 | 11.8¢ | $88.33 |
Monthly cost by daily driving in California
What the electricity bill looks like for a typical EV (3.5 mi/kWh, ~10% charging losses) charged at home at 31.8¢/kWh, versus a 32-mpg gas car at $3.15/gallon.
| Daily driving | Miles / month | EV at home | EV on DC fast only | Gas car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mi/day | 600 | $60.57 | $73.71 | $59.06 |
| 30 mi/day | 900 | $90.86 | $110.57 | $88.59 |
| 40 mi/day | 1,200 | $121.14 | $147.43 | $118.13 |
| 60 mi/day | 1,800 | $181.71 | $221.14 | $177.19 |
| 80 mi/day | 2,400 | $242.29 | $294.86 | $236.25 |
Public charging in California
Public DC fast charging in California typically costs 35–60¢/kWh — Tesla Superchargers usually 30–50¢ depending on time of day, Electrify America and EVgo 48–64¢ without a membership — which is about 1.4× the state's 31.8¢ home rate. Public Level 2 stations at workplaces, garages and shopping centers are often free or billed at 20–35¢/kWh. If you cannot charge at home, see the apartment charging playbook and the Supercharger cost guide.
Run your own numbers
Using California's average residential rate (31.8¢/kWh) · national average 16.9¢ · includes ~10% AC charging losses. Rates vary by utility and plan — your bill is the source of truth.