The short answer
- Home charging: ~$0.04/mile — about $40/month for 1,000 miles.
- Public Level 2: ~$0.08/mile — about $80/month for the same driving.
- Public DC fast: ~$0.15/mile — about $150/month, and you sit at the station.
Cost per mile, side by side
Modern EVs use roughly 0.28 kWh per mile. Multiply that by the price you pay per kWh and you get the real cost of driving — no marketing math.
| Charging type | Typical $/kWh | Cost per mile | 1,000 mi/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home (Level 1 or 2) | $0.16 | $0.045 | ~$45 |
| Home + time-of-use plan | $0.08–$0.11 | $0.022–$0.031 | ~$22–$31 |
| Public Level 2 | $0.25–$0.35 | $0.07–$0.10 | ~$70–$100 |
| Public DC fast | $0.45–$0.60 | $0.13–$0.18 | ~$130–$180 |
When each option wins
Charge at home
Daily commuting, errands, and overnight refills. Cheapest, most convenient, and you wake up to a full battery.
Public Level 2
Workplace or grocery-store top-ups when you're parked anyway. Reasonable price, slow but background.
Public DC fast
Road trips and edge cases only. Convenient — but at 3–4x your home rate, it's a tool, not a habit.
The payback math on a home charger
A typical Level 2 install runs $1,200–$2,500. If you'd otherwise spend ~$130/month at public fast chargers, your home unit pays for itself in about 12–18 months. After federal 30C and local utility rebates, that window shrinks to 6–12 months for most households.
See our full EV charger installation cost guide for the line-by-line install breakdown.
See what charging costs in your city
Local electricity rates, utility rebates, and a vetted installer for your ZIP.
Browse locationsFrequently asked questions
01.Is it cheaper to charge at home or in public?
Home charging is 2–4x cheaper. Expect about $0.04/mile at home vs $0.13–$0.18/mile at a public DC fast charger in 2026.
02.How much does a full month of home charging cost?
For 1,000 miles of driving, plan on $35–$50 in electricity at standard residential rates — closer to $20–$30 on a time-of-use plan.
03.When does public charging make sense?
Road trips, apartments without garage access, and high-mileage drivers (rideshare, delivery) who can't refill overnight at home.
04.How fast does a home Level 2 charger pay for itself?
Most drivers break even in 12–24 months. Apply federal 30C and utility rebates and the window often drops to 6–12 months.
Rates reflect national 2026 averages. Your actual cost depends on your utility, time-of-use plan, and EV efficiency. Local installers verify current pricing and rebates before any project starts.