How much does it cost to charge a Tesla?
A full charge of a 2026 Tesla Model Y (357 miles) costs about $16 at home and $49 at a fast charger. Driving 1,000 miles a month on home charging comes to about $46, as of Jun 2026.
- $16full charge at home
- $49at a fast charger
- $46a month at home, 1,000 mi
Live source
Average residential electricity price by state (year to date)
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.B
Data as of Jun 2026.
Average residential price so far this year.
Research source
Paren DC fast charging price report, Q2 2026 (summary)
EVChargingStations.com summarizing Paren
Checked Sep 14, 2026.
Typical price per kWh at public fast chargers.
Research source
Fuel economy and range for every car sold in the US
U.S. EPA and Department of Energy (fueleconomy.gov)
Checked Sep 14, 2026.
Range and kWh per 100 miles as rated by the EPA.
Cars you’re comparing
2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
43 city / 37 hwy mpg
Buy new for about $33,400 · maker’s starting price
2026 Tesla Model Y
25 kWh per 100 mi · 357 mi range
Buy new for about $41,600 · maker’s starting price
Three questions
What would change the answer
- If you drive over 28,500 miles a year, Model Y comes out ahead.
- If you can get Model Y for under $33,000, it comes out ahead.
Why it comes out this way
Typical amounts over 8 years. Everything counts: the car losing value, gas or charging, insurance, repairs, taxes, and loan interest.
Pay now, then every month
| Car | Up front | A month, all-in | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 Hybrid | $36,240 | $744 | $71,397 |
| Model Y | $46,804 | $854 | $81,954 |
“A month, all-in” spreads every cost, including the value the car loses, over the months you keep it.
Where the money goes
The biggest difference is value lost: RAV4 Hybrid saves about $11,228 there.
Value lost
RAV4 Hybrid: $21,139Model Y: $32,367Gas & charging
RAV4 Hybrid: $11,881Model Y: $6,733Home charger
RAV4 Hybrid: $0Model Y: $2,204Upkeep & repairs
RAV4 Hybrid: $13,056Model Y: $11,146Taxes & fees
RAV4 Hybrid: $5,004Model Y: $6,694Loan interest
RAV4 Hybrid: $6,263Model Y: $7,801Insurance
RAV4 Hybrid: $14,471Model Y: $15,292
Show as a table
| Cost | RAV4 Hybrid | Model Y |
|---|---|---|
| Value lost | $21,139 | $32,367 |
| Gas & charging | $11,881 | $6,733 |
| Home charger | $0 | $2,204 |
| Upkeep & repairs | $13,056 | $11,146 |
| Taxes & fees | $5,004 | $6,694 |
| Loan interest | $6,263 | $7,801 |
| Insurance | $14,471 | $15,292 |
Year by year
The typical running total for each car. Change “years you keep it” to move the finish line.
Big repair risk, out of 100
About how many owners in 100 pay for a new battery within 8 years.
Fewer than 1 in 100: RAV4 Hybrid needs a new battery
Fewer than 1 in 100: Model Y needs a new battery
What we assumed, and where it came from
- Gas, regular
- $4.16 a gallon
Live source
Weekly retail gasoline prices by state and region
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Data as of Sep 7, 2026.
Weekly average for the state where EIA reports one, otherwise for its region.
- Premium and diesel
- $5.17 and $5.97
Live source
National average fuel prices
U.S. Department of Energy (fueleconomy.gov)
Data as of Sep 14, 2026.
Premium and diesel are priced from how they compare with regular nationally.
- Electricity at home
- 18.2¢ per kWh
Live source
Average residential electricity price by state (year to date)
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.B
Data as of Jun 2026.
Average residential price so far this year.
- Insurance, state average
- $1,704 a year
Research source
Auto Insurance Database Report (2023 data)
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Checked Jan 1, 2023.
2023 state averages brought to today with the BLS insurance price index (×1.18).
- Sales tax
- 7.00%
Research source
State and local sales tax rates, midyear 2026
Tax Foundation
Checked Jul 2026.
Combined state and average local rate; some states tax cars at a different rate.
- Extra yearly fee for electric cars
- $130
Research source
Extra registration fees for electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid cars
State motor vehicle and revenue departments
Checked Sep 14, 2026.
- Loan rate
- 8.1%; 5 years and 15% down are our typical terms
Live source
Average 60-month new car loan rate at commercial banks
Federal Reserve Board, via FRED
Data as of May 2026.
Average 60-month new car loan rate at banks, plus 1 point for a typical borrower.
- Weather, for battery range in cold and heat
- Monthly averages
Live source
Statewide monthly temperatures and heating/cooling degree days
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Data as of Dec 2025.
Average temperature for each month over the last 10 years.
- Car prices you didn’t type
- Segment averages
Our estimate
Average transaction prices by segment, August 2026
Kelley Blue Book / Cox Automotive
Checked Aug 2026.
Average price paid for cars in the same segment, adjusted by powertrain. Type your own price for a better answer.
No federal clean vehicle credit is counted: it ended for cars bought after September 30, 2025. Internal Revenue Service, checked Sep 14, 2026. State and utility rebates vary; add one where the tool asks.
Every number the model uses, with its source, is on the math page.
For the curious: all the numbers
We play out 1,000 futures. Each draws its own gas and electricity prices, miles, repair bills, insurance, and resale prices, and every car lives through the same ones. The 20 dots on the answer card are evenly spaced picks from those futures.
| Option | A good case | Typical | A bad case | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 Hybrid | $64,148 | $71,397 | $80,101 | $0.74 |
| Model Y | $75,191 | $81,954 | $89,791 | $0.85 |
What moves the gap most
The unknowns whose ups and downs most change which option comes out ahead. A good or bad case is 1 future in 10 at that end.
- Used EV prices when you sellsome
- Future gas pricessome
- How much you actually drivea little
- Used-car prices when you sella little
- Repair prices near youa little
Try other assumptions
Each change replays every future. Watch which coins move.
What goes into it
| Car | Range | Full charge at home | Full charge, fast charger | 1,000 miles at home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 | 309 mi | $17 | $49 | $54 |
| 2026 Tesla Model Y | 357 mi | $16 | $49 | $46 |
| 2026 Tesla Model S | 410 mi | $20 | $60 | $49 |
| 2026 Tesla Model X | 352 mi | $21 | $61 | $58 |
| 2026 Tesla Cybertruck | 325 mi | $25 | $75 | $78 |
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to charge a Model Y at home?
About $16 from empty to full at the US average home rate of $0.18 per kWh. Driving 1,000 miles a month, that’s about $46 a month. Your own rate may be higher or lower; the tool below uses your state’s.
How much more does a fast charger cost?
At a typical $0.54 per kWh, the same full charge costs about $49, roughly 3.0 times the home price. Fast chargers vary by network, site, and time of day.
Is charging cheaper than gas?
At home, usually. 1,000 miles in a 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid takes about $104 of gas at $4.16 a gallon, against $46 charging the Model Y at home and $136 on fast chargers only.
Which Tesla here costs the least to charge per mile?
The 2026 Tesla Model Y uses about 25 kWh per 100 miles, about $46 per 1,000 miles at home. The 2026 Tesla Cybertruck uses about 43, about $78.