EV Charging Cost in Iowa
Updated September 2026 · average residential rates
The short answer: Iowa's average residential electricity rate is 13.7¢/kWh — 19% below the U.S. average, ranking #16 cheapest of 51. A Tesla Model Y costs about $11.42 to fully charge at home here (3.9¢ per mile), and home charging saves roughly $59.41/month versus a comparable gas car at 1,000 miles.
What EV owners in Iowa should know
Iowa's wind-heavy grid keeps rates below average, and MidAmerican's cheap, clean generation is a quiet asset for EV owners. Winter consumption penalties are real on the open prairie; budget above the page figure for January.
Full-charge cost by model in Iowa
| Vehicle | Full charge (home) | Per mile | Per 1,000 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 (RWD) | $9.13 | 3.6¢ | $36.24 |
| Tesla Model Y (Long Range) | $11.42 | 3.9¢ | $39.03 |
| Tesla Model S | $15.22 | 4.1¢ | $41.14 |
| Tesla Cybertruck (AWD) | $18.72 | 6.1¢ | $60.89 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | $12.94 | 4.5¢ | $44.77 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | $10.96 | 4.6¢ | $46.13 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | $14.92 | 6.9¢ | $69.19 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | $11.72 | 4.5¢ | $44.77 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | $11.72 | 3.8¢ | $38.06 |
| Kia EV6 | $11.72 | 4.2¢ | $42.28 |
| Kia EV9 | $15.22 | 5.4¢ | $54.37 |
| Nissan Ariya | $13.24 | 5.1¢ | $50.74 |
| Nissan Leaf | $9.13 | 4.5¢ | $44.77 |
| Rivian R1T | $20.55 | 6.3¢ | $63.43 |
| Rivian R1S | $20.55 | 6.6¢ | $66.18 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | $11.72 | 5.1¢ | $50.74 |
| BMW i4 | $12.33 | 4.3¢ | $43.49 |
| Lucid Air | $17.05 | 3.8¢ | $38.06 |
| Honda Prologue | $12.94 | 4.8¢ | $47.57 |
| Toyota bZ4X | $10.81 | 4.6¢ | $46.13 |
| Tesla Model X | $15.22 | 5.1¢ | $50.74 |
| Chevrolet Blazer EV | $12.94 | 5.1¢ | $50.74 |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | $25.88 | 6.3¢ | $63.43 |
| GMC Sierra EV | $25.88 | 6.3¢ | $63.43 |
| GMC Hummer EV | $31.21 | 9.5¢ | $95.14 |
| Cadillac Lyriq | $15.53 | 5.2¢ | $52.49 |
| Cadillac Optiq | $12.94 | 5.1¢ | $50.74 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | $9.89 | 4.2¢ | $42.28 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 | $16.74 | 5.2¢ | $52.49 |
| Kia Niro EV | $9.74 | 4.3¢ | $43.49 |
| BMW iX | $15.98 | 5.2¢ | $52.49 |
| BMW i5 | $12.33 | 4.6¢ | $46.13 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQB | $10.20 | 4.9¢ | $49.10 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE | $13.55 | 4.6¢ | $46.13 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS | $16.44 | 4.8¢ | $47.57 |
| Audi Q4 e-tron | $11.72 | 5.1¢ | $50.74 |
| Audi Q6 e-tron | $14.31 | 4.9¢ | $49.10 |
| Porsche Taycan | $13.55 | 5.1¢ | $50.74 |
| Porsche Macan Electric | $14.46 | 4.9¢ | $49.10 |
| Polestar 2 | $12.03 | 4.5¢ | $44.77 |
| Polestar 3 | $16.29 | 5.4¢ | $54.37 |
| Volvo EX40 | $12.03 | 4.8¢ | $47.57 |
| Volvo EX90 | $16.29 | 5.6¢ | $56.38 |
| Subaru Solterra | $10.81 | 4.8¢ | $47.57 |
| Lexus RZ | $10.81 | 4.9¢ | $49.10 |
| Volkswagen ID. Buzz | $13.09 | 5.9¢ | $58.55 |
| MINI Countryman SE | $9.74 | 4.9¢ | $49.10 |
| Fiat 500e | $6.39 | 4.2¢ | $42.28 |
| Dodge Charger Daytona EV | $14.16 | 5.2¢ | $52.49 |
| Jeep Wagoneer S | $14.16 | 5.1¢ | $50.74 |
| Acura ZDX | $15.53 | 5.2¢ | $52.49 |
| Genesis GV60 | $11.72 | 4.6¢ | $46.13 |
| Lucid Gravity | $17.05 | 4.6¢ | $46.13 |
| Chevrolet Bolt EV (2027) | $9.89 | 3.9¢ | $39.03 |
| Rivian R2 | $14.00 | 4.8¢ | $47.57 |
| Kia EV3 | $12.33 | 4.0¢ | $40.06 |
| Cadillac Escalade IQ | $30.44 | 6.9¢ | $69.19 |
| Cadillac Vistiq | $15.53 | 5.2¢ | $52.49 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA (electric) | $12.94 | 3.5¢ | $35.40 |
| Chevrolet Bolt EUV | $9.89 | 4.2¢ | $42.28 |
| BMW i3 (2019–2021) | $6.42 | 3.9¢ | $39.03 |
| BMW i7 | $15.48 | 5.2¢ | $52.49 |
| Audi e-tron GT | $14.77 | 5.2¢ | $52.49 |
| Audi Q8 e-tron | $16.14 | 6.1¢ | $60.89 |
| Audi A6 e-tron | $14.45 | 3.9¢ | $39.03 |
| Volvo EX30 | $9.74 | 3.9¢ | $39.03 |
| Polestar 4 | $14.31 | 4.8¢ | $47.57 |
| Genesis Electrified GV70 | $11.78 | 5.2¢ | $52.49 |
| Genesis Electrified G80 | $13.27 | 4.8¢ | $47.57 |
| Mercedes-Benz G580 (Electric G-Class) | $17.66 | 7.6¢ | $76.11 |
| MINI Cooper SE (Hardtop) | $4.40 | 4.2¢ | $42.28 |
| Fisker Ocean | $16.14 | 4.8¢ | $47.57 |
| VinFast VF 8 | $13.35 | 6.3¢ | $63.43 |
| Ford E-Transit | $13.55 | 8.5¢ | $84.57 |
| Kia EV4 | $11.87 | 3.9¢ | $39.03 |
| Toyota C-HR EV | $11.37 | 3.9¢ | $39.03 |
| Subaru Trailseeker | $11.37 | 4.3¢ | $43.49 |
| Jeep Recon | $15.22 | 6.1¢ | $60.89 |
Cost to charge a Tesla in Iowa
Tesla is the most-searched brand, so here it is separately: home charging at 13.7¢/kWh versus typical Supercharger pricing (~2-3× home rates).
| Tesla | Full charge (home) | Per mile | Est. Supercharger full charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 (RWD) | $9.13 | 3.6¢ | $22.83 |
| Tesla Model Y (Long Range) | $11.42 | 3.9¢ | $28.54 |
| Tesla Model S | $15.22 | 4.1¢ | $38.06 |
| Tesla Cybertruck (AWD) | $18.72 | 6.1¢ | $46.81 |
| Tesla Model X | $15.22 | 5.1¢ | $38.06 |
Monthly cost by daily driving in Iowa
What the electricity bill looks like for a typical EV (3.5 mi/kWh, ~10% charging losses) charged at home at 13.7¢/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 | $26.10 | $73.71 | $59.06 |
| 30 mi/day | 900 | $39.14 | $110.57 | $88.59 |
| 40 mi/day | 1,200 | $52.19 | $147.43 | $118.13 |
| 60 mi/day | 1,800 | $78.29 | $221.14 | $177.19 |
| 80 mi/day | 2,400 | $104.38 | $294.86 | $236.25 |
Public charging in Iowa
Public DC fast charging in Iowa 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 3.1× the state's 13.7¢ 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 Iowa's average residential rate (13.7¢/kWh) · national average 16.9¢ · includes ~10% AC charging losses. Rates vary by utility and plan — your bill is the source of truth.