Public charging for electric vehicles (EVs) remains significantly more expensive than at-home charging across the U.S., according to a new LendingTree analysis.
The report found that the average cost to charge an EV at public and commercial stations is 34.2 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), more than double the average at-home rate of 16.3 cents per kWh -- a 110.3% difference nationwide.
However, the cost gap is far more pronounced in some states. Idaho leads the nation with public charging rates 288.2% higher than residential electricity rates. Montana (280.7%) and Arkansas (261.5%) followed closely behind.
“The discrepancy between public and residential EV charging rates underscores how where and how you charge your EV can have a major impact on your bottom line,” said LendingTree analysts in the report.
Conversely, a few states have narrower gaps between public and residential charging costs. In Massachusetts, public charging is just 2.9% more expensive than at-home charging, followed by California (15.4%) and Hawaii (31.9%).
The analysis, based on AAA and U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, shows considerable variation in charging costs across the country:
• Most expensive public charging states: Hawaii (55.8 cents per kWh), West Virginia (47.3 cents), and Montana (45.3 cents).
• Least expensive public charging states: Kansas (22.0 cents), Nebraska (24.6 cents), and Missouri and Maryland (25.4 cents).
• Most expensive at-home charging states: Hawaii (42.3 cents), Massachusetts (31.2 cents), and California (30.6 cents).
• Least expensive at-home charging states: North Dakota (10.2 cents), Nebraska (10.8 cents), and Idaho and Utah (11.0 cents).
Residential electricity costs peaked at 17.0 cents per kWh in November 2024 before dropping 4.4% to 16.3 cents in December. Over the past decade, residential electricity prices have risen in nominal terms -- from 12.5 cents in 2014 to 16.5 cents in 2024 -- though inflation-adjusted costs have remained stable.
Price shifts also varied by region. Oregon saw the largest year-over-year increase in residential electricity costs (11.9%), followed by New Jersey (10.8%) and Kansas (9.4%). Rhode Island posted the largest decrease (18.1%).
Looking ahead, the EIA projects average residential electricity prices to rise to 16.9 cents per kWh in 2025 and 17.5 cents in 2026.
The LendingTree report concludes that while EVs may offer long-term savings on fuel, the cost of charging -- particularly outside the home -- is an important factor for current and prospective owners to consider.
