Rank 48 of 51 states, EIA August 2026 prices
California electricity rates and EV charging cost
At 29.75¢/kWh — California's average residential electricity price in August 2026 — charging a typical EV costs about $9.97 per 100 miles and $112.12 a month for 13,500 miles a year. That is 64% above the U.S. average of 18.16¢. That is down from 33.61¢ in July 2026.
Per month
$112.1213,500 miles a year
- Electricity price
- 29.75¢per kWh, +64% vs U.S.
- Per 100 miles
- $9.9733.5 kWh/100 mi EV
- Rank
- #48of 51, 1 is cheapest
- Per month
- $112.1213,500 miles a year
Calculate your cost in California
Live EIA prices and EPA efficiency. Updates as you type.
More models are in the full calculator.
Electricity price trend in California
Average residential price, cents per kWh, last 13 months (EIA).
EV vs gas in California
Regular gasoline averaged $6.031 a gallon in the California region in the week of October 19, 2026 (EIA). A 30 mpg car costs $20.10 per 100 miles, versus $9.97 for a typical EV — $1,368.51 a year in favor of the EV.
Charging cost for popular EVs in California
At 29.75¢/kWh and 13,500 miles a year. Select a model for trims, charging time and nearby states.
| Vehicle | kWh/100 mi | Per 100 miles | Per month | Full charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 26.9 | $7.99 | $89.91 | $26.93 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 26.4 | $7.85 | $88.28 | $27.15 |
| Tesla Model S | 32.5 | $9.66 | $108.73 | $33.63 |
| Tesla Model X | 34.2 | $10.19 | $114.62 | $33.52 |
| Tesla Cybertruck | 42.9 | $12.76 | $143.60 | $41.48 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | 32.6 | $9.70 | $109.17 | $29.79 |
| Chevrolet Blazer EV | 35.6 | $10.60 | $119.30 | $30.01 |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | 49.6 | $14.74 | $165.84 | $42.16 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 33.6 | $10.01 | $112.57 | $24.02 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 47.9 | $14.25 | $160.36 | $45.61 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 34.5 | $10.26 | $115.46 | $27.61 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 28.0 | $8.33 | $93.71 | $26.32 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | 29.1 | $8.65 | $97.34 | $22.58 |
| Kia EV6 | 31.6 | $9.40 | $105.70 | $27.72 |
| Kia EV9 | 40.0 | $11.90 | $133.88 | $33.68 |
| Honda Prologue | 34.1 | $10.14 | $114.04 | $29.80 |
| Rivian R1S | 43.1 | $12.83 | $144.33 | $40.67 |
| Rivian R1T | 43.1 | $12.83 | $144.33 | $40.67 |
| Cadillac Lyriq | 38.0 | $11.30 | $127.12 | $36.05 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 31.6 | $9.40 | $105.75 | $19.36 |
| Nissan Leaf | 30.4 | $9.05 | $101.83 | $13.49 |
| Nissan Ariya | 35.3 | $10.50 | $118.12 | $21.52 |
| Toyota bZ | 28.0 | $8.33 | $93.70 | $23.99 |
| Subaru Solterra | 28.9 | $8.60 | $96.80 | $23.92 |
| BMW i4 | 33.4 | $9.94 | $111.82 | $28.53 |
| Lucid Air | 27.3 | $8.12 | $91.39 | $32.17 |
California vs neighboring states
California and its neighbors are outlined on the map.
| State | Electricity (¢/kWh) | Per 100 miles | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72 | $4.26 | $47.94 |
| Arizona | 15.05 | $5.04 | $56.72 |
| Oregon | 15.92 | $5.33 | $60.00 |
| California | 29.75 | $9.97 | $112.12 |
Monthly electricity prices in California
| Month | Price (¢/kWh) | EV cost per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 29.75 | $9.97 |
| July 2026 | 33.61 | $11.26 |
| June 2026 | 34.74 | $11.64 |
| May 2026 | 33.25 | $11.14 |
| April 2026 | 35.29 | $11.82 |
| March 2026 | 33.28 | $11.15 |
| February 2026 | 33.22 | $11.13 |
| January 2026 | 30.29 | $10.15 |
| December 2025 | 29.95 | $10.03 |
| November 2025 | 32.03 | $10.73 |
| October 2025 | 33.62 | $11.26 |
| September 2025 | 31.89 | $10.68 |
| August 2025 | 30.92 | $10.36 |
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to charge an EV in California?
About $9.97 per 100 miles, $112.12 a month or $1,345.44 a year for 13,500 miles, at 29.75¢/kWh for an EV using 33.5 kWh/100 mi.
What is the average electricity price in California?
29.75 cents per kWh for residential customers in August 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is 64% above the U.S. average of 18.16¢.
Is it cheaper to drive an EV than a gas car in California?
On fuel, yes: about $1,345.44 a year for the EV versus $2,713.95 for a 30 mpg gas car at $6.031/gal (EIA California average).
How does California compare with neighboring states?
Arizona, Nevada, Oregon have lower residential electricity prices than California.