EV vs Gas Cost Comparison: Per Mile, Per Year

The same trip in two different cars produces wildly different bills depending on where and how you charge or fuel. Here is the side-by-side at 2026 US prices.

Per-mile cost

• EV at home (16 cents/kWh): $0.046/mile (3.5 mi/kWh × $0.16)
• EV at DC fast (43 cents/kWh): $0.123/mile
• Gas at 30 mpg ($3.40/gal): $0.113/mile
• Gas at 25 mpg: $0.136/mile
• Hybrid at 50 mpg: $0.068/mile

Annual cost at 12,000 miles

• EV at home: $552
• EV at DC fast: $1,476
• Gas (30 mpg): $1,356
• Hybrid (50 mpg): $816

The wins and losses

EV at home beats gasoline by 60 percent. EV at DC fast loses to gasoline by 9 percent. Hybrid sits between them, beating both DC-only EVs and 30 mpg gas cars. The deciding factor is always: where do you charge?

What this means

If you have home charging, EV is the cheapest car to run, period. If you don't, hybrid usually wins on operating cost. Use the calculator to check your specific country and charging setup.