Despite recent turbulence, Tesla still remains at the top of the list of manufacturers in the electric vehicles (EVs) market. And Tesla owners don’t have to pay for gas, but they do have to pay to charge their cars — so do they save money overall?
Find Out: Here’s What It Costs To Charge a Tesla Monthly vs. Using Gas for a Honda Civic
Read Next: 6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives
The cost of charging a Tesla depends on electricity rates, charging speed and battery capacity. Let’s take a closer look.
Quick Take: Tesla Charging Station Costs
If you are thinking of switching from a gas-powered vehicle to a Tesla model, the cost to charge your vehicle at a charging station can range from free to upwards of $40. Typically, Tesla charging costs range from $13 to $18 for a full charge, according to 8MSolar.
Several factors can affect this cost, the most important being the size of your Tesla battery pack and your location. After all, different-sized batteries take different amounts of time to charge, and the cost of electricity varies by location as well.
Keep in mind, the amount of money you’ll pay to charge your vehicle at a charging station largely depends on the charging station. Here are some key takeaways for what it costs to charge an electric vehicle:
- Prices at Electrify America stations range from $0.31 to $0.43 per kilowatt hour.
- Some charging stations, like Volta stations, are ad- and retailer-supported, and they are completely free to use.
- Considering most Tesla vehicles have a 50 kWh battery, the cost to charge the vehicle at a charging station ranges from absolutely free to around $22.
- If you have a 100kWh battery, it may cost up to $43 to charge your vehicle at a charging station.
- These estimations often put charging your Tesla at a 50% price reduction from average fuel costs.
Consider This: I Bought a Hybrid Car: Here’s How Much I Save on Gas Every Month
Is It Expensive To Charge a Tesla at Home?
In the United States, the cost of electric utility services varies greatly depending on your area. For example, EnergyBot reports that in Texas, the average residential electricity rate is around $0.15 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) whereas the average for California is much higher at $0.31 per kWh. The national average cost of electricity per kWh is $0.17.
On the other hand, if your home charging comes from solar power, your cost will be substantially less. These statistics are good to know when comparing to gas prices or considering charging networks’ average costs, which are as follows:
- A 50 kWh Tesla battery costs about $13 to charge.
- A 100 kWh Tesla battery costs about $18 to charge.
- The national average gas price as of July 2025 is $3.16 per gallon
How Much Does It Cost To Charge at a Tesla Supercharger?
Tesla Superchargers are the big thing in electric vehicle charging right now. Although Tesla doesn’t share its pricing, several reviews suggest it costs an average of $25 to fill up at Tesla Supercharge stations and report typical costs of around $0.25 per kWh. Level 3 Superchargers are capable of extra-fast charging speed, giving Tesla drivers between 162 and 200 miles of range in about 15 minutes.
How Much Does Charging a Tesla Affect Your Electricity Bill?
The effect charging your Tesla will have on your electric bill largely depends on two factors:
- Electricity cost per kWh in your location
- The amount you drive
Simply put, the more your energy company charges you for electricity, the more it will cost you to charge a Tesla at home. Moreover, the more you drive, the more you’ll need to charge.
The average American drives about 1,200 miles per month. Teslas have between 50 and 100 kWh batteries with the average Tesla range being around 267 miles. With the average cost per kWh in the U.S. being $0.17, the average increase to your electric bill if you charge your Tesla at home 100% of the time could be somewhere between $40 and $100. Keep in mind that these are broad averages. Drawing on the examples presented, if you live in California, you’ll likely see a much higher increase in your electricity bill than someone who lives in Texas would.
The bottom line is that with ever-increasing gas prices, EVs are simply more cost-effective for your monthly budget. As such, it’s significantly cheaper to charge most Teslas at home or at a charging station than fill up your tank at a gas station.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Does It Cost To Charge a Tesla?
