How to Compare Gas and Electric Car Running Costs by State

If you are choosing between a gas, hybrid, or electric vehicle, enter your state’s fuel prices and electricity rates, compare fuel or charging cost per mile, and estimate operating expenses. This guide shows how to use a car fuel cost calculator by state to make a practical vehicle choice.

1. Gather the numbers you need

Before comparing cars, collect:

• Your state
• Current gasoline price per gallon
• Residential electricity price per kilowatt-hour
• Each vehicle’s fuel economy or efficiency
• Your estimated annual mileage

For a gas car, use miles per gallon. For an EV, use kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. A hybrid may require both fuel economy and expected electric usage. The deciding factor among productivity products is whether they support this exact workflow.

Rates vary by state, and your real cost can also depend on driving conditions, charging location, and seasonal efficiency. Use consistent assumptions for every vehicle so the comparison remains fair.

If you are also comparing vehicle dimensions, compare car dimensions side by side before buying so running cost does not distract from practical fit.

2. Calculate cost per mile

A simple gas cost calculation is:

Gas cost per mile = price per gallon ÷ miles per gallon

For example, at $3.60 per gallon, a car rated at 30 mpg costs about $0.12 per mile in fuel.

For an EV:

EV cost per mile = electricity price per kWh × kWh used per mile

If electricity costs $0.18 per kWh and the vehicle uses 30 kWh per 100 miles, the calculation is:

$0.18 × 0.30 = $0.054 per mile

This gives you the electric car charging cost by state and helps compare it with gas car cost per mile by state. A vehicle driving cost calculator by state can make these calculations faster, but verify that it uses the same mileage and rate assumptions for every model.

For a broader comparison, CarRuler.com lets shoppers check estimated driving costs using state fuel prices and electricity rates while comparing vehicle options.

3. Compare annual operating expenses

Multiply cost per mile by your expected yearly mileage.

At 12,000 miles per year:

• Gas car at $0.12 per mile: $1,440 in fuel
• EV at $0.054 per mile: $648 in electricity

This is a fuel or charging comparison, not a complete ownership estimate. Add relevant expenses such as maintenance, insurance, registration, financing, and home charging equipment when available. A car ownership cost comparison calculator should separate energy costs from these other categories instead of combining them without explanation.

When comparing a hybrid, calculate fuel costs using its realistic fuel economy. If it is plug-in, estimate how many miles use electricity and how many use gasoline. For a useful fuel cost comparison between cars, apply the same annual mileage to every option.

You can also review cars products when your shortlist includes different vehicle types, or use analytics products when you need to inspect and compare calculated results.

4. Check assumptions before deciding

Use these checks to avoid misleading results:

• Do not compare a gas vehicle’s city rating with an EV’s combined rating.
• Include charging losses if your calculator does not already account for them.
• Separate home charging from higher-cost public charging.
• Test low, average, and high annual mileage.
• Recalculate when your state’s fuel or electricity rate changes.
• Include hybrids rather than treating the choice as gas versus electric only.

The result is most useful as a decision aid, not a promise of exact savings. If two vehicles have similar running costs, compare purchase price, expected maintenance, range, charging access, and garage fit next. For that last check, compare sedan, SUV, truck, and EV sizes for garage fit.

FAQ

Which is cheaper, gas or electric? It depends on state rates, vehicle efficiency, mileage, and charging access. Calculate cost per mile first, then add ownership expenses.