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EV vs gas cost in California: $1,303 a year saved at 12,000 miles
With California electricity at 33.25¢/kWh and regular gasoline at $6.03/gal, a typical EV (0.3 kWh/mile, charged 80% at home) costs about 10.7¢ per mile to run versus 21.5¢ per mile for a 28 mpg gas car. That beats gas by $1,303 a year at 12,000 miles. California ranks #5 of 51 (50 states + DC) for annual savings and #50 for lowest residential electricity price.
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What the California numbers say
- Electricity: California residential average is 33.25¢/kWh year-to-date through July 2026, 83% above the U.S. average of 18.19¢. It is up 2.5% from the same period in 2025. Latest single month (July 2026): 33.61¢.
- Gasoline: $6.03/gal (EIA state series), up $1.60 from a year ago. The U.S. average is $4.28.
- Cost-equivalent MPG: a gas car would need about 56 mpg to cost the same per mile as this EV in California.
- If prices move: at 20% cheaper gas ($4.82) the yearly EV saving would be $786; at 20% higher electricity (39.90¢) it would be $1,112.
What this leaves out: purchase price, tax credits, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, home charger installation, time-of-use rates and cold-weather range loss. Your utility's own rate may differ from the state average. See the methodology.
Cost to run common things in California
- Space heater (1,500 W): $0.50 per hour
- Electric blanket (200 W): $0.53 per 8-hour night
- Window air conditioner (1,000 W): $0.33 per hour
- Electric clothes dryer: $1.00 per load
- Dishwasher: $0.33 per load
- Refrigerator: $150 per year
- Gaming PC (300 W under load): $0.10 per hour
- EV home charging (per 100 miles): $9.97 per 100 miles
Heating this winter? In California a heat pump costs about $38.98 per million BTU of heat vs $22.68 for a gas furnace and $30.95 for propane. Heat pump vs furnace in California.