By EV Charge Cost Editorial Team. Published September 28, 2026, updated October 26, 2026.
How we calculated it
The table assumes the commute happens five days a week, about 260 days a year, and that you charge at home. Monthly cost = daily miles × 260 ÷ 12 × kWh per 100 miles ÷ 100 × price per kWh. Weekend and errand driving come on top.
The round-trip figure is what matters, not the one-way distance. A job 20 miles from home is a 40-mile row in the table. If you charge at work as well as at home, count only the miles your home charger actually has to replace.
We use a typical EV at 33.5 kWh/100 mi and three prices from EIA's August 2026 data: the cheapest state, Nevada (12.72¢/kWh); the U.S. average (18.16¢/kWh); and the most expensive, Hawaii (47.18¢/kWh).
Monthly charging cost by round-trip commute
| Round trip per day | kWh per day | Nevada | U.S. average | Hawaii | Level 1 time per night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mi | 3.4 | $9.23 | $13.18 | $34.24 | 2 h 20 min |
| 20 mi | 6.7 | $18.47 | $26.36 | $68.49 | 4 h 39 min |
| 30 mi | 10.1 | $27.70 | $39.54 | $102.73 | 6 h 59 min |
| 40 mi | 13.4 | $36.93 | $52.72 | $136.98 | 9 h 19 min |
| 50 mi | 16.8 | $46.16 | $65.91 | $171.22 | 11 h 38 min |
| 60 mi | 20.1 | $55.40 | $79.09 | $205.47 | 13 h 58 min |
| 70 mi | 23.5 | $64.63 | $92.27 | $239.71 | 16 h 17 min |
| 80 mi | 26.8 | $73.86 | $105.45 | $273.96 | 18 h 37 min |
The last column is how long a standard 120 V outlet at 1.44 kW needs to put back one day's commute. Anything that fits in the hours your car sits at home overnight works without a Level 2 charger.
What the table tells you
- Cost scales in a straight line. Every extra 10 miles of daily round trip adds about $13.18 a month at the national average.
- Location can matter as much as distance. A 40-mile commute in Hawaii costs about as much as a 148-mile commute in Nevada.
- Level 1 covers more than people think. If the car sits plugged in for 10 hours a night, a 1.44 kW outlet puts back about 43 miles, which covers the shorter rows of the table. Beyond that, or with a short off-peak window, a Level 2 charger starts to matter. See Level 1 vs Level 2 charging.
Adding the rest of your driving
Commuting is rarely all of it. If you drive 13,500 miles a year in total, a common planning figure, a 40-mile weekday commute accounts for 10,400 of them, leaving about 3,100 miles for weekends, errands and trips. At 18.16¢/kWh that remainder adds about $15.72 a month, for a household total near $68.44.
A simple way to estimate your own total is to take two odometer readings a month apart. Multiply the miles by 33.5 ÷ 100 for kWh (or use your car's own rating) and then by your price per kWh.
Compared with a gas car
At $4.284 a gallon (EIA U.S. regular, week of 2026-10-19) and 30 mpg, the 40-mile commute costs $123.76 a month in gasoline against $52.72 in electricity, a difference of $71.04 a month. The EV vs gas calculator runs the comparison with your car and state.
Adjusting for your commute
- Highway-heavy commutes use more energy than the EPA combined rating, especially above typical highway speeds. See highway speed and EV efficiency.
- Winter adds cabin and battery heating. Preheating while plugged in helps. See cold weather charging cost.
- Workplace charging, free or paid, can cover part or all of the commute. Subtract those kWh from your home estimate.
- Hybrid or remote schedules reduce the day count. Three office days a week cuts the table's numbers by about 40%.
- Your own rate can differ from the state average. Use your bill's price in the calculator.