Quick Answer
Under the home-charging assumptions in this guide, EV driving costs less per 100 miles than gasoline driving in every state and D.C. row in the table. The largest modeled savings show up where residential electricity prices are moderate or low and regular gasoline prices are high.
The result is not a permanent ranking. It is a dated snapshot based on EIA residential electricity prices for February 2026 and AAA state regular gasoline prices as of May 12, 2026. The gap can shrink with high residential rates, cold-weather efficiency losses, a very efficient gas vehicle, a less efficient EV, or frequent DC fast charging.
Methodology: How We Compare EV Cost vs Gas Cost
The comparison uses cost per mile because it puts electricity and gasoline on the same unit. Full-charge and full-tank comparisons can be misleading: battery size and tank size change the receipt, not the energy cost to move one mile.
EV wall-energy cost per mile = Electricity price per kWh ÷ Charging efficiency ÷ Miles per kWh
Gas cost per mile = Gas price per gallon ÷ MPGData Sources Used
Electricity prices come from EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, which lists average residential electricity prices by state. The current table used here is for February 2026 and was released April 23, 2026. Gas prices come from AAA State Gas Price Averages for regular gasoline as of May 12, 2026.
The table should be refreshed as a unit. Do not update gas prices without checking the electricity release date, and do not reuse old state rankings after either source changes.
State-by-State EV Charging Cost vs Gas Price Table
This table reflects home charging only. It does not represent public Level 2 pricing, DC fast charging pricing, idle fees, session fees, or a utility time-of-use plan.
| State | Residential electricity | Regular gas | EV cost / 100 mi | Gas cost / 100 mi | EV savings / 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.18¢/kWh | $4.06 | $5.14 | $13.54 | $8.40 |
| Alaska | 25.79¢/kWh | $5.26 | $8.19 | $17.54 | $9.35 |
| Arizona | 16.03¢/kWh | $4.80 | $5.09 | $16.01 | $10.92 |
| Arkansas | 12.73¢/kWh | $4.01 | $4.04 | $13.38 | $9.34 |
| California | 33.22¢/kWh | $6.15 | $10.55 | $20.51 | $9.96 |
| Colorado | 16.79¢/kWh | $4.39 | $5.33 | $14.65 | $9.32 |
| Connecticut | 30.77¢/kWh | $4.62 | $9.77 | $15.39 | $5.62 |
| Delaware | 16.27¢/kWh | $4.34 | $5.17 | $14.46 | $9.30 |
| District of Columbia | 23.97¢/kWh | $4.63 | $7.61 | $15.44 | $7.83 |
| Florida | 15.80¢/kWh | $4.36 | $5.02 | $14.52 | $9.51 |
| Georgia | 14.13¢/kWh | $4.01 | $4.49 | $13.38 | $8.89 |
| Hawaii | 43.00¢/kWh | $5.64 | $13.65 | $18.80 | $5.15 |
| Idaho | 12.63¢/kWh | $4.61 | $4.01 | $15.36 | $11.35 |
| Illinois | 17.83¢/kWh | $4.97 | $5.66 | $16.57 | $10.91 |
| Indiana | 16.06¢/kWh | $4.32 | $5.10 | $14.38 | $9.28 |
| Iowa | 12.74¢/kWh | $4.19 | $4.04 | $13.97 | $9.93 |
| Kansas | 15.11¢/kWh | $4.08 | $4.80 | $13.59 | $8.79 |
| Kentucky | 13.42¢/kWh | $4.24 | $4.26 | $14.13 | $9.87 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢/kWh | $4.00 | $4.09 | $13.33 | $9.24 |
| Maine | 32.17¢/kWh | $4.52 | $10.21 | $15.06 | $4.85 |
| Maryland | 20.08¢/kWh | $4.45 | $6.37 | $14.84 | $8.46 |
| Massachusetts | 30.46¢/kWh | $4.46 | $9.67 | $14.88 | $5.21 |
| Michigan | 20.00¢/kWh | $4.71 | $6.35 | $15.70 | $9.35 |
| Minnesota | 15.39¢/kWh | $4.16 | $4.89 | $13.87 | $8.98 |
| Mississippi | 14.72¢/kWh | $3.98 | $4.67 | $13.28 | $8.61 |
| Missouri | 12.17¢/kWh | $4.15 | $3.86 | $13.85 | $9.98 |
| Montana | 13.33¢/kWh | $4.49 | $4.23 | $14.96 | $10.73 |
| Nebraska | 11.79¢/kWh | $4.08 | $3.74 | $13.61 | $9.87 |
| Nevada | 14.38¢/kWh | $5.24 | $4.57 | $17.46 | $12.89 |
| New Hampshire | 26.52¢/kWh | $4.48 | $8.42 | $14.93 | $6.51 |
| New Jersey | 23.12¢/kWh | $4.52 | $7.34 | $15.07 | $7.73 |
| New Mexico | 15.07¢/kWh | $4.17 | $4.78 | $13.89 | $9.10 |
| New York | 29.99¢/kWh | $4.59 | $9.52 | $15.29 | $5.77 |
| North Carolina | 14.64¢/kWh | $4.14 | $4.65 | $13.82 | $9.17 |
| North Dakota | 11.64¢/kWh | $4.14 | $3.70 | $13.80 | $10.11 |
| Ohio | 17.52¢/kWh | $4.67 | $5.56 | $15.58 | $10.02 |
| Oklahoma | 12.89¢/kWh | $3.94 | $4.09 | $13.14 | $9.05 |
| Oregon | 14.64¢/kWh | $5.33 | $4.65 | $17.78 | $13.13 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.30¢/kWh | $4.66 | $6.44 | $15.54 | $9.10 |
| Rhode Island | 29.45¢/kWh | $4.48 | $9.35 | $14.94 | $5.59 |
| South Carolina | 16.15¢/kWh | $4.12 | $5.13 | $13.72 | $8.60 |
| South Dakota | 13.24¢/kWh | $4.21 | $4.20 | $14.04 | $9.84 |
| Tennessee | 12.82¢/kWh | $4.14 | $4.07 | $13.81 | $9.74 |
| Texas | 15.41¢/kWh | $4.01 | $4.89 | $13.37 | $8.48 |
| Utah | 13.33¢/kWh | $4.57 | $4.23 | $15.23 | $11.00 |
| Vermont | 23.27¢/kWh | $4.54 | $7.39 | $15.14 | $7.75 |
| Virginia | 15.96¢/kWh | $4.28 | $5.07 | $14.28 | $9.21 |
| Washington | 14.11¢/kWh | $5.77 | $4.48 | $19.22 | $14.74 |
| West Virginia | 14.41¢/kWh | $4.38 | $4.57 | $14.61 | $10.04 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢/kWh | $4.38 | $5.95 | $14.59 | $8.64 |
| Wyoming | 13.04¢/kWh | $4.43 | $4.14 | $14.78 | $10.64 |
The table shows why cost per mile is the better comparison. California has high electricity prices, but high gasoline prices still keep the modeled EV cost lower than the 30 MPG gas comparison. Hawaii has the highest residential electricity price in the data set, so the EV advantage narrows even though gasoline is also expensive.
Best States for EV Savings
The biggest savings in this snapshot come from states where regular gasoline is expensive while residential electricity remains closer to the middle of the national range or below it.
| Rank | State | EV cost / 100 mi | Gas cost / 100 mi | Savings / 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $4.48 | $19.22 | $14.74 |
| 2 | Oregon | $4.65 | $17.78 | $13.13 |
| 3 | Nevada | $4.57 | $17.46 | $12.89 |
| 4 | Idaho | $4.01 | $15.36 | $11.35 |
| 5 | Utah | $4.23 | $15.23 | $11.00 |
| 6 | Arizona | $5.09 | $16.01 | $10.92 |
| 7 | Illinois | $5.66 | $16.57 | $10.91 |
| 8 | Montana | $4.23 | $14.96 | $10.73 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $4.14 | $14.78 | $10.64 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $3.70 | $13.80 | $10.11 |
Washington leads this snapshot at about $14.74 saved per 100 miles, followed by Oregon and Nevada. That does not make the ranking fixed; gasoline prices can move daily, and electricity data updates on a different schedule.
States Where EV Savings May Be Smaller
Smaller savings usually mean residential electricity prices are high enough to take a bigger bite out of the home-charging advantage. These states can still produce strong EV savings for drivers with off-peak utility rates, workplace charging, solar, or a less efficient gas vehicle comparison.
| Rank | State | EV cost / 100 mi | Gas cost / 100 mi | Savings / 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $10.21 | $15.06 | $4.85 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $13.65 | $18.80 | $5.15 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $9.67 | $14.88 | $5.21 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $9.35 | $14.94 | $5.59 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $9.77 | $15.39 | $5.62 |
| 6 | New York | $9.52 | $15.29 | $5.77 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $8.42 | $14.93 | $6.51 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $7.34 | $15.07 | $7.73 |
| 9 | Vermont | $7.39 | $15.14 | $7.75 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $7.61 | $15.44 | $7.83 |
Home Charging vs Public Charging by State
The state table uses residential electricity prices because home charging is the baseline most EV cost comparisons need. Public charging is a separate cost bucket. A driver who fast-charges often can spend much more per mile than this home-charging table suggests.
| Charging scenario | Example rate | EV cost / mile | EV cost / 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home charging | $0.16/kWh | $0.0508 | $5.08 |
| Public Level 2 | $0.25/kWh | $0.0794 | $7.94 |
| DC fast charging | $0.45/kWh | $0.1429 | $14.29 |
At $0.45/kWh, the example DC fast-charging cost is close to or above the gasoline comparison in several states. That is why the state table should be read as a home-charging benchmark, not a universal EV operating-cost promise.
How to Use the Table for Your Own Car
Start with the state row, then replace the assumptions that do not fit your situation. A compact EV at 4.2 mi/kWh will beat the table. A large electric truck at 2.1 mi/kWh will not. A hybrid at 45 MPG changes the gas side. So does a household that charges mostly at public stations.
To turn those inputs into a personal estimate, use the CostToCharge.com EV Charging Cost Calculator. For the underlying cost-per-mile math, see the EV Charging Cost Per Mile guide.
Common Mistakes in EV vs Gas Comparisons
The first mistake is comparing full battery cost with full tank cost. A $90 gasoline fill-up and a $15 charging session do not tell you much unless you know how many miles each purchase delivers.
The second mistake is mixing home and public charging into one rate. Home electricity, paid workplace charging, public Level 2, and DC fast charging can have very different prices. If you rely on public charging, model it separately instead of applying the state residential electricity average to every mile.
The third mistake is treating a dated table as a permanent answer. Electricity prices lag because they are published in monthly releases. Gasoline prices can change daily. Any state ranking should carry the source month and gas-price date.
Frequently asked questions
Is EV charging cheaper than gas in every state?
Not in every driving situation. Under this home-charging model, EV driving costs less per 100 miles in every state and D.C. row in the table. The answer can change with public fast charging, a less efficient EV, a very efficient gas car, weather, or a different local utility rate.
Which states have the biggest EV fuel-cost savings?
In this snapshot, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah have the largest modeled savings per 100 miles. The ranking comes from the combination of residential electricity prices, regular gas prices, 3.5 mi/kWh EV efficiency, 90% charging efficiency, and a 30 MPG gas comparison.
Which states have smaller EV savings?
Maine, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut sit near the bottom of this home-charging savings snapshot. That does not mean EV ownership is expensive in every case there; it means high residential electricity prices reduce the fuel-cost gap under these assumptions.
Does public charging make EVs more expensive than gas?
Sometimes. Home charging usually has the strongest fuel-cost advantage. Public Level 2 can still be competitive, while DC fast charging can narrow the gap sharply and may exceed the cost per mile of gasoline in some cases.
Why does EV savings vary by state?
The state result moves with residential electricity rates, gasoline prices, vehicle efficiency, charging losses, driving conditions, and the share of charging done at home versus public stations.
Is cost per mile better than cost per full charge?
Yes. Cost per mile removes the distortion from battery size and gas tank size. A large battery can cost more to fill without being more expensive per mile, just as a large gas tank can cost more to fill without changing MPG.
How often should EV vs gas cost data be updated?
Gasoline prices should be refreshed often because they move quickly. State electricity prices should be updated when EIA publishes a newer state-level residential electricity release.
Conclusion
Under this May 2026 snapshot, a home-charged EV beats the 30 MPG gasoline comparison on cost per 100 miles in every state and D.C. row shown above. The margin is not identical everywhere: Washington, Oregon, and Nevada sit near the top of the savings table, while Maine, Hawaii, and several New England states show a narrower gap.
The two formulas that matter are the same in every state:
EV cost per mile = electricity price per kWh ÷ charging efficiency ÷ miles per kWh
Gas cost per mile = gas price per gallon ÷ MPGReplace the state average with your own utility rate, your own EV efficiency, and the gas vehicle you would otherwise drive. That is the number worth using for a household budget.
Source notes
State electricity prices use EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, average residential electricity prices by state, February 2026 data, released April 23, 2026. Gasoline prices use AAA State Gas Price Averages for regular gasoline, price date May 12, 2026. EV charging context uses DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center home and public charging guidance.