How much do I save on EV fuel costs moving from California to Washington?

Switching from California to Washington saves about $644/year on EV home charging at 12,000 miles/year. Over 5 years that's roughly $3,220 — before accounting for any public charging.

How do Washington and California electricity rates compare to the national average?

The national average residential electricity rate is 16.1¢/kWh ($508/year for 12,000 EV miles). Washington at 10.2¢/kWh is 5.9¢ below the national average. California at 30.6¢/kWh is 14.5¢ above.

How much does an EV save vs gas in Washington vs California?

At current gas prices, a 28-MPG gas car costs $1736/year to fuel in Washington — an EV saves roughly $1414/year there. In California, the gas cost runs $2079/year, making the EV savings about $1113/year. Both states favor EVs on fuel cost; the margin just differs.

EV Charging Cost: Washington vs California (2026)

Q: Is EV charging cheaper in Washington or California?

Washington has lower home electricity rates for EV charging — Washington averages 10.2¢/kWh vs. 30.6¢/kWh in California. At 12,000 miles/year (3.8 mi/kWh), that's $322/year in Washington vs. $966/year in California — a $644/year difference.

Washington electricity runs 10.2¢/kWh vs 30.6¢/kWh in California. At 12,000 miles/year, that's $644/year less to charge at home.

Washington

10.2¢

per kWh

$322/year

-5.9¢ vs national avg

California

30.6¢

per kWh

$966/year

+14.5¢ vs national avg

Washington vs California — EV Charging Breakdown

Home charging at 12,000 miles/year (3.8 mi/kWh efficiency). Green = lower cost.

Metric	Washington	California	National Avg
Electricity rate	10.2¢/kWh ✓	30.6¢/kWh	16.1¢/kWh
Cost per mile (EV)	2.7¢/mi ✓	8.1¢/mi	4.2¢/mi
Annual home charging	$322/yr ✓	$966/yr	$508/yr
Gas savings vs EV	$1414/yr ✓	$1113/yr	—

EIA 2025 residential rates. 12,000 mi/year at 3.8 mi/kWh. Gas savings vs. 28 MPG car at state avg pump price. Home charging only — public L2 runs ~2–3× more, DCFC ~3–4×.

Annual Cost Impact

At 12,000 miles/year, home EV charging costs $322/year in Washington vs $966/year in California. Washington comes out $644/year ahead.

Monthly savings

$54

Annual savings

$644

5-year savings

$3,220

Rate difference

20.4¢

Savings = California minus Washington home charging cost at 12,000 miles/year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EV charging cheaper in Washington or California?

Washington at 10.2¢/kWh vs. 30.6¢/kWh in California. At 12,000 miles/year, that gap is $644/year — real money over a 5-year lease or ownership period.

How much does an EV cost to charge annually in each state?

At home (100% home charging): Washington runs $322/year, California runs $966/year. Switching from public L2 charging adds roughly 2.5× on top of the home rate.

How much does an EV save on fuel vs. a gas car in Washington?

In Washington, a 28-MPG gas car costs about $1736/year in fuel. An EV at 10.2¢/kWh costs $322/year — roughly $1414/year less.

Do electricity rates vary within a state?

Yes. Statewide averages hide real spread between utilities. California's PG&E customers pay well above the state average, while LADWP customers pay less. If you're buying an EV, check your specific utility's EV rate — many offer off-peak discounts that cut the effective rate by 30–50%.

Related Comparisons

California vs Texas → California vs Florida → California vs Nevada → Colorado vs California →

See full breakdown: EV charging in Washington · EV charging in California · All state comparisons · EV vs gas by state