A Tesla Model Y costs about $588 a year to fuel in Texas, $684 in Ohio and $1,217 in California. A comparable gas SUV costs $2,022, $2,053 and $3,305 in the same states. This guide shows the arithmetic so you can repeat it with your own state and your own miles.
The savings come from two numbers: what a kilowatt-hour costs you at home, and what a gallon of gas costs at the pump. Both vary a lot by state, which is why a national average is wrong for almost everyone.
The setup
The example compares a 2026 Model Y Standard with a Honda CR-V LX AWD, the common Model Y alternative. Both drive 15,000 miles a year, the same yearly mileage AAA uses in its driving cost study. Change the miles and every figure below scales in proportion.
- Model Y efficiency: 24.4 kWh per 100 miles, which is the EPA combined figure (138 MPGe) for the standard 18-inch wheels, per fueleconomy.gov. It is measured at the wall, so it already includes charging losses.
- CR-V fuel economy: 29 mpg combined, also per fueleconomy.gov.
- Electricity: the average residential price in each state, from the EIA Electric Power Monthly (January to July 2026, read October 4, 2026).
- Gas: the average price of regular unleaded in each state, from AAA (read October 4, 2026).
Step by step
Electricity first. 15,000 miles divided by 100, times 24.4 kWh, is 3,660 kWh a year. In Texas, where residential power averages 16.06 cents per kWh, that is 3,660 x $0.1606 = $587.80 a year, or about $49 a month.
Now gas. 15,000 miles divided by 29 mpg is about 517 gallons. At Texas's average of $3.91 a gallon, that is 517.2 x $3.91 = $2,022.41 a year.
The difference is $2,022.41 - $587.80 = $1,434.62 a year in Texas. Here are three states side by side, as of October 4, 2026.
| State | Electricity (per kWh) | Gas (per gallon) | Model Y per year | CR-V per year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 16.06 cents | $3.91 | $587.80 | $2,022.41 | $1,434.62 |
| Ohio | 18.70 cents | $3.97 | $684.42 | $2,053.45 | $1,369.03 |
| California | 33.25 cents | $6.39 | $1,216.95 | $3,305.17 | $2,088.22 |
Per mile, the Model Y costs about 3.9 cents in Texas, 4.6 cents in Ohio and 8.1 cents in California. The CR-V costs about 13.5, 13.7 and 22.0 cents.
California shows the pattern well. Its electricity is more than twice Texas's, yet the savings are the largest of the three because its gas is far more expensive. A state with cheap gas and pricey power narrows the gap, but at these efficiency numbers it does not close it.
The same math on a smaller scale
A yearly total can feel abstract, so here is the same calculation for shorter distances. Per 100 miles, the Model Y uses 24.4 kWh, which costs $3.92 in Texas, $4.56 in Ohio and $8.11 in California. The CR-V burns about 3.45 gallons per 100 miles, which costs $13.48, $13.69 and $22.03 in those states.
For a 300-mile day trip charged entirely at home rates, that is about $11.76 for the Model Y in Texas against $40.45 for the CR-V. A road trip uses public chargers, so expect your real cost to be higher; the home-rate figure is the floor, not the typical trip.
Monthly, the Texas Model Y fuel bill averages about $49 and the CR-V about $169. In Ohio it is about $57 against $171, and in California about $101 against $275. These are averages: you will spend more in a winter month and less in a mild one.
Why the state matters more than the car
Between the two cars the efficiency gap is fixed. The Model Y uses about 24.4 kWh per 100 miles and the CR-V about 3.45 gallons. What moves the result is the price you pay for each unit. In the table, Texas and Ohio land within about $65 of each other because their prices are close, while California sits roughly $650 higher on the savings line because a gallon there costs $2.48 more than in Texas.
That is why it pays to use your own rates rather than a headline number from an article, including this one. The three states here are examples, not a ranking.
What changes your own number
- Where you charge. The table assumes you charge at home at your state's average residential rate. Public fast charging usually costs more per kWh, so a driver who relies on it will save less. The charging calculator shows the cost of a session at different prices.
- Your utility's rate plan. Many utilities offer cheaper overnight rates for EV owners, and some charge more at peak. A state average hides these differences.
- Your gas car. A hybrid closes much of the gap. The data behind the calculators uses a 43 mpg Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and at 43 mpg the gas side of the Texas example falls to about $1,364, so the yearly saving is smaller.
- Weather. Cold weather cuts range and raises the kWh you use. See how cold weather cuts your Tesla's range.
- Trim and wheels. Other trims and larger wheels have different EPA efficiency figures. Use the number for the trim you are considering.
Fuel is only part of what it costs to own a car. Insurance, maintenance, depreciation and tax matter too, and a lower fuel bill does not by itself make a Tesla the cheaper car overall. The total cost of ownership calculator adds all of them.
What to do
- Find your electricity rate on your utility bill, in cents per kWh, and your local gas price.
- Multiply your yearly miles by the car's kWh per 100 miles, divided by 100, then by your rate.
- Put your state and your miles in the savings calculator to see your own yearly fuel savings against the gas car you would otherwise buy.
- If you can charge at home, ask your utility whether it has an EV rate plan before you buy.
