How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
(A kilowatt-hour, or kWh, is the unit on your power bill.)
What does that look like in real dollars?
Worked example: 40 km (≈25 mi)/day × 21 workdays = 840 km (≈522 mi)/month. Car: 2026 Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD, EPA 14.9 kWh/100 km (≈24 kWh/100 mi) (fueleconomy.gov, checked Oct 27, 2026).
Energy use: 840 km × 14.9 ÷ 100 ≈ 125 kWh/month.
| Scenario (≈125 kWh/month) | Math | Energy cost |
|---|---|---|
| Canada city average (16.4 ¢/kWh CAD) | 125 × $0.164 | ≈ C$20.50/month · ≈ C$4.89/week (5 workdays) · ≈ C$246/year |
| US average residential (18.16 ¢/kWh USD) | 125 × $0.1816 | ≈ US$22.70/month · ≈ US$5.41/week · ≈ US$272/year |
| Ontario Ultra-Low Overnight, 11 p.m.–7 a.m. (3.7 ¢/kWh commodity only) | 125 × $0.037 | ≈ C$4.63/month + delivery and regulatory charges |
How the Canada average is derived: simple (unweighted) average of the 12 Canadian cities in Hydro-Québec's Comparison of Electricity Prices in Major North American Cities, rates in effect April 1, 2025, for 1,000 kWh/month, excluding taxes = 16.4 ¢/kWh (sum 196.50 ÷ 12). It is not population-weighted. US average is the EIA residential average for August 2026 (preliminary).
US states vary widely — EIA's same table shows August 2026 residential averages from 12.72 ¢ (Nevada) to 29.75 ¢ (California). Check your own bill.
Examples, not quotes. They exclude charger installation and winter efficiency changes. Rates change; recheck sources on publish day.
Calculate your cost
Plug in your own numbers below. Same tool also lives at /tools/charging-cost-calculator.
How we calculate
- Distance — daily round trip × workdays (default 21) or × 30.4 for every day.
- Efficiency — your car's kWh/100 km (Canada: NRCan Fuel Consumption Guide / vehicles.gc.ca) or kWh/100 mi (US: fueleconomy.gov).
- Rate — ¢/kWh from your bill (Canada: energy + delivery lines; US: often one all-in rate), or a preset above.
- Cost = distance × (kWh per 100 ÷ 100) × price per kWh.
How do rates compare across Canada?
All-in residential prices for 1,000 kWh/month, rates in effect April 1, 2025, excluding taxes — Hydro-Québec comparison:
| City (province) | ¢/kWh |
|---|---|
| Montréal, QC | 8.29 |
| Winnipeg, MB | 10.53 |
| Vancouver, BC | 12.60 |
| Ottawa, ON | 14.35 |
| Toronto, ON | 15.57 |
| Calgary, AB | 22.90 |
| Simple average of 12 Canadian cities in the report | 16.4 |
Full report (12 Canadian + US cities): Hydro-Québec PDF. Related: Canada Energy Regulator market snapshot on provincial electricity prices (modeled estimates as of November 2025).
Ontario also appears below as an overnight plan example (commodity-only Ultra-Low Overnight), which is different from the all-in Toronto/Ottawa rows above.
Does charging overnight really save money?
Often, yes — if your utility has time-of-use (TOU) pricing (prices that change by time of day).
Example — Ontario Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO): the Ontario Energy Board sets 3.7 ¢/kWh every night from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. (commodity only; delivery and regulatory charges are extra). Prices set for Nov 1, 2026. Avoid charging on weekdays 4–9 p.m., when ULO on-peak is 37.7 ¢/kWh — right when many commuters get home. Plug in after work, then set the scheduled-charging timer once so the car waits until 11 p.m.
Many US utilities also offer residential time-of-use or EV rate plans — see the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center — Charging at Home.
How do I work out my own charging cost?
Cost = distance × (kWh per 100 km ÷ 100) × price per kWh (or use kWh/100 mi with miles)
| Input | Example value |
|---|---|
| Distance | 40 km (≈25 mi)/day × 21 workdays = 840 km (≈522 mi)/month |
| Car efficiency | 14.9 kWh/100 km (≈24 kWh/100 mi) (2026 Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD, EPA) |
| Price per kWh | Canada city avg 16.4 ¢ · US avg 18.16 ¢ · or your bill |
Sources for every figure are listed at the bottom of this page.
Is it cheaper to charge at home, at work, or at a public charger?
- Home is usually the cheapest per kWh.
- Workplace chargers are usually Level 2. Some are free, some paid — ask whether it's free for staff.
- DC fast (Level 3) usually costs more per kWh than home; you pay for speed. Prices vary by network — check the app. See our Level 3 charging guide.
For the full "is an EV worth it" picture (charging vs other costs), see Is it worth buying an electric car for your commute?
FAQ
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
About C$21/month at the Canada city average, or about US$23/month at the US average, for the 40 km (≈25 mi)/day commute example above (~125 kWh).
How much does it cost to charge an EV in Canada?
It depends on your province and plan. Using the Hydro-Québec city average of 16.4 ¢/kWh, the same ~125 kWh commute is about C$20.50/month. Montréal is much lower (8.29 ¢); Calgary is higher (22.90 ¢). Overnight plans can be cheaper still — see Ontario Ultra-Low Overnight above.
Is it cheaper to charge at home or at a public charger?
Usually at home. DC fast charging typically costs more per kWh because you pay for speed. Check your network's app for its exact price.
How many kWh does it take to drive 100 km?
It depends on the car. The EPA rates the 2026 Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD at about 14.9 kWh/100 km (≈24 kWh/100 mi). Bigger vehicles use more.
Does charging overnight save money in Ontario?
Yes, on the Ultra-Low Overnight plan: 3.7 ¢/kWh from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Ontario Energy Board, prices set Nov 1, 2026; commodity only — plus delivery and regulatory charges).
Do I need a Level 2 charger at home?
Not always. For a short commute, a regular outlet (Level 1) overnight may be enough; check your car's charging rate. (DOE AFDC notes many drivers meet daily needs with Level 1 overnight.)
Related guides
- Level 3 charging, explained simply
- Hybrid vs plug-in hybrid
- Is it worth buying an electric car for your commute?
- Try the charging-cost calculator (standalone)
Sources
Checked Nov 6, 2026 unless noted.
- Hydro-Québec — Comparison of Electricity Prices in Major North American Cities, rates in effect April 1, 2025 (1,000 kWh/month residential, excluding taxes)
- Canada Energy Regulator — Market Snapshot: How much do your neighbours across Canada pay for electricity? (modeled estimates as of November 2025)
- U.S. EIA — Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (Aug 2026, preliminary; released Oct 23, 2026)
- Ontario Energy Board — Electricity rates (prices for Nov 1, 2026), Ultra-Low Overnight
- fueleconomy.gov — 2026 EV ratings (checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Natural Resources Canada — 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide (PDF) · search tool: vehicles.gc.ca
- DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center — Charging Electric Vehicles at Home (TOU / Level 1 notes)
Examples, not quotes or financial advice. Rates change; check your utility.