All states · Gas October 6, 2026 · Electricity July 2026

Cost to charge an EV in Montana vs gas

Charging an EV at home in Montana costs the same per mile as buying gas at $1.21 a gallon. Regular gas averaged $4.51 on October 6, 2026, so 1,000 miles costs about $45 to charge and $167 in gas: roughly $122 a month back in your pocket, or $1,467 a year.

Montana has no open EV purchase incentive right now; here is what is left and what closed, last reviewed October 2026. What is left in Montana.

Charging in Montana: 14th cheapest of 51

Home electricity averages 15.0 cents per kWh (EIA, July 2026), 18% below the 18.3-cent national average. That makes Montana the 14th cheapest of 51 places to charge at home (38th most expensive).

The rate is up 5.0% from a year ago (14.3 to 15.0 cents). At today's rate, 12,000 miles a year costs about $540 to charge at home, the same per mile as a gas car that gets 100 mpg.

Gas in Montana: 11th most expensive of 51

Regular gas averages $4.51 a gallon (AAA, October 6, 2026), 3% above the $4.37 national average, the 41st cheapest of 51. A 27 mpg car burns about 444 gallons over 12,000 miles, roughly $2,006 a year.

Gas would have to fall to about $1.21 a gallon before that car costs less per mile than charging at home in Montana.

The EV fee: at least 9% of your fuel savings

Montana charges EV owners an extra $130 to $190/yr at registration, the state's answer to lost gas-tax revenue. Against the $1,467 a year you save on fuel at 12,000 miles, a fee of at least $130 takes roughly 9%, leaving about $1,337 a year.

See every state's EV fee, ranked

Montana vs its neighbors

Same 1,000 miles a month, same car, each state's own prices. Montana saves $122 a month.

Why this holds up when gas spikes

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 Montana, gas would have to fall below $1.21 a gallon.

Why an EV opts you out of gas spikes · Is an EV cheaper than gas right now? Every state

How we calculated it

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 Montana's average residential rate. Your own miles, car and utility will move these numbers, so treat this as the honest average, not your bill.

Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential average), AAA state gas price averages (regular unleaded)

Now run it with your own numbers

Use the savings calculator, check Montana EV incentives, or see which EVs fit how you drive.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to charge an EV in Montana?

Montana's average residential electricity rate is 15.0 cents per kWh (EIA, July 2026). A typical new EV uses about 30 kWh per 100 miles, so 100 miles costs about $4.50 and 1,000 miles costs about $45 when you charge at home.

Is an EV cheaper than gas in Montana right now?

Yes, to fuel. Charging at home costs the same per mile as gas at $1.21 a gallon. With regular gas at $4.51 a gallon (AAA, October 6, 2026), 1,000 miles in a 27 mpg gas car costs about $167, versus $45 for an EV. That is roughly $122 a month, or $1,467 a year.

How low would gas have to fall for charging to stop being cheaper in Montana?

About $1.21 a gallon. Below that price, a 27 mpg gas car costs less per mile than charging at home at Montana's average rate. Gas is $4.51 today, so home charging currently costs about the same per mile as a gas car that gets 100 mpg.

Does Montana charge extra fees to EV owners?

Montana adds an EV registration fee of $130 to $190/yr. It is the state's answer to lost gas-tax revenue, so include it when you compare yearly costs. Our Montana incentives page covers it along with the rebates that are still available.

What do these numbers leave out?

They assume home charging at the state average residential rate, a typical new EV and a 27 mpg gas car. Public fast charging usually costs more than charging at home, and some utilities offer cheaper overnight rates. Your own miles, car and utility matter, so run your own numbers in the savings calculator.

States with similar charging costs

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