California EV vs gas · Gas October 12, 2026 · Electricity rates 2025
Yes, by a lot. On SMUD's average home rate, charging an EV costs the same per mile as gas at $1.53 a gallon. Gas in the Sacramento area averaged $6.28 on October 12, 2026, so 1,000 miles a month costs about $57 to charge versus $233 in gas: roughly $176 a month back.
What you pay for power sets what charging costs. Here are the numbers for Sacramento.
Serves Sacramento and most of Sacramento County
Average home rate 18.9 cents per kWh (2025). Charging costs the same per mile as gas at $1.53 a gallon: about $57 for 1,000 miles versus $233 in gas.
We found no current EV rebate or charging credit from SMUD in our latest review of California programs.
Some nearby areas outside the county, like Roseville, have their own utility or PG&E.
Gas prices jumped in 2026 when the war with Iran disrupted oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Home electricity is priced by utilities under state regulators and moves far more slowly, so the gap tends to widen when gas spikes. For a 27 mpg car to cost less per mile than charging at home in Sacramento, gas would have to fall below $1.53 a gallon.
Why an EV opts you out of gas spikes · Is an EV cheaper than gas right now? Every state
California charges EV owners an extra $121/yr at registration. Even after that, charging on SMUD leaves about $1,989 a year in your favor at 12,000 miles.
MyFirstEV takes $3,500 off your first new EV at the dealer, no income cap, but Tesla's pot is gone. Used-EV rebates up to $4,000. Budget a $121/yr EV fee.
California EV incentives · EV fees by state
We assume 1,000 miles a month, a typical new EV that uses 30 kWh per 100 miles, a 27 mpg gas car, and home charging at each utility's average residential rate, which includes its fixed monthly charges. An overnight or EV rate is often cheaper than that average, and public fast charging costs much more. Treat this as the honest average, not your bill.
Sources: EIA Form 861, 2025 (each utility’s residential revenue divided by residential sales), AAA metro gas price averages (regular unleaded), October 12, 2026
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Yes. Charging at home on SMUD (18.9 cents per kWh, 2025) costs about $57 per 1,000 miles. The same miles in a 27 mpg car cost about $233 at the $6.28 Sacramento gas average on October 12, 2026. California's $121/yr EV fee still leaves about $1,989 a year in your favor.
About $1.53 a gallon. That is what a 27 mpg car would need to pay to match the cost per mile of charging at home on SMUD.
At home, about $57 per 1,000 miles on SMUD (18.9 cents per kWh), for a typical EV that uses 30 kWh per 100 miles. Public fast charging costs much more per kWh than home charging, so these numbers assume you charge at home most of the time.
California has state EV money open right now (see the California guide), and we found no utility EV rebate for Sacramento in our latest review. Check your utility's site for charger offers.
Thinking of buying? Run any dealer quote through the free Deal-Checker before you sign.