One of the nice things about owning an electric vehicle is that you no longer have to worry about gas prices. But don’t think for a second that EVs are free to drive.
Instead of paying at the pump, you pay at the charger. Charging at home increases your electric bill, while using a public charging station adds costs during road trips. Though charging a Tesla is generally cheaper than fueling a gas-powered car, the expenses still add up over time.
If buying a Tesla electric vehicle is on your mind today, you’re likely thinking, “how much does it cost to charge a Tesla?” Below, we outline Tesla’s various charging options and the average cost for each.
Tesla Charging Options
Like other electric vehicles, Tesla models offer a range of charging options, from very slow to ultra-fast. This variety makes answering the question, “how much does it cost to charge a Tesla?” more complex.
Let’s review each type of charger from slowest to fastest to get a better idea of what costs you can expect.
120-Volt or 240-Volt Household Charging Cable
Tesla offers a $345 mobile connector with a NEMA 5-15 adapter that plugs into any standard 120-volt household outlet. This is the slowest charging option, providing up to 4.8 km of range per hour or 48 to 64 km of range per day, according to Tesla. If you have a short commute or don’t drive daily, this setup could be convenient, as it doesn’t require professional installation. Aftermarket alternatives are also available online.
For faster charging, Tesla’s mobile connector includes a NEMA 14-50 adapter for 208- to 240-volt outlets, similar to those used for clothes dryers. If you have a spare outlet in your garage or don’t mind sharing the dryer outlet, this option can deliver up to 48.2 km of range per hour, depending on the power output of your specific outlet. You can also purchase compatible 240-volt charging cables and adapters from aftermarket retailers.
If your garage lacks a 240-volt outlet, consider hiring a licensed electrician to install one for a more efficient charging experience.
Level 2 Home Charger or Public Charger
A Level 2 home charger uses a 240-volt outlet with a higher amperage than standard household outlets, enabling faster charging. Tesla’s $580 Wall Connector can provide up to 70 km of range per hour. Aftermarket wall-mounted chargers are also available, though charging speeds will vary depending on the unit’s amperage.
Since Level 2 chargers operate at high voltage, professional installation by a licensed electrician is required.
Level 2 public chargers are also widely available and offer similar charging speeds to home wall-mounted units. However, some public stations use only SAE J1772 connectors. If you plan to use these, you’ll need Tesla’s $70 charging adapter.
DC Fast Charger
As electric cars continue to grow in popularity, DC fast charging stations become more plentiful as well. These stations start at 50 kW and go up to 350 kW — the higher the kW rating, the shorter the charging time.
Tesla models are compatible with many of these third-party chargers, as many now include Tesla charging connectors. However, some charging stations only have CHAdeMO connectors, so you must order an adapter (purchasable online) to connect your Tesla to a CHAdeMO plug.
When connected to a DC fast charger via a CHAdeMO adapter, Tesla models can receive up to a 50 kW charge and receive 160.9 km of range in 30 minutes. If you find a DC fast charger with a Tesla connector, the charging speed depends on the charger’s maximum kW output. The fastest rate would be 321.8 km of charge in 15 minutes.
Tesla Supercharger
The Tesla Supercharger network is the fastest way to charge any Tesla model. These proprietary chargers can deliver up to 321.8 km of range in just 15 minutes. Tesla once had free supercharging for select Tesla cars, but that is no longer available.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla at Home?
Charging a Tesla at home in Canada depends heavily on the model and battery size. Another key factor is the average electricity rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in your province. Here are the latest per-kWh electricity rates by province — Note: some provinces have sliding scales based on hours and wattage used:
- Alberta: $0.258
- British Columbia: $0.114
- Manitoba: $0.102
- New Brunswick: $0.139
- Newfoundland & Labrador: $0.148
- Nova Scotia: $0.183
- Northwest Territories: $0.410
- Nunavut: $0.354
- Ontario: $0.141
- Prince Edward Island: $0.184
- Québec: $0.078
- Saskatchewan: $0.199
- Yukon Territory: $0.187
With the average electricity rate by province determined, we can now calculate the cost to charge each Tesla model and variant.
Cost to Charge a Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 comes with two battery pack options: a 57.5-kWh battery in the base model and an 82-kWh battery in the Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) Long Range and Performance models.
57.5-kWh Battery
With the larger 82-kWh battery capacity, the Model 3’s charging cost will rise because it takes additional power to recharge it fully. The average charging cost by province is as follows:
- Alberta: $21.16
- British Columbia: $9.34
- Manitoba: $8.36
- New Brunswick: $11.40
- Newfoundland & Labrador: $12.14
- Nova Scotia: $15.01
- Northwest Territories: $33.62
- Nunavut: $29.03
- Ontario: $11.56
- Prince Edward Island: $15.09
- Québec: $6.40
- Saskatchewan: $16.32
- Yukon Territory: $15.33
82-kWh Battery
With the larger 82-kWh battery capacity, the Model 3’s charging cost will rise because it takes additional power to recharge it fully. The average charging cost by province is as follows:
- Alberta: $11.07
- British Columbia: $10.88
- Manitoba: $7.65
- New Brunswick: $9.33
- Newfoundland & Labrador: $10.12
- Nova Scotia: $7.62 to $16.87
- Northwest Territories: $25.09 to $57.53
- Nunavut: $25.42 to $50.84
- Ontario: $6.07 to $12.38
- Prince Edward Island: $9.74 to $12.23
- Québec: $5.99
- Saskatchewan: $12.06
- Yukon Territory: $9.95 to $11.47
Cost to Charge a Tesla Model Y
Similarly, the Tesla Model Y has two battery pack options. A 60-kWh unit for the Standard Range model and an 81-kWh unit for the Long Range model:
60-kWh Battery
The 60-kWh battery is slightly larger than the comparably sized 57.5-kWh unit of the Model 3. Because of this, the cost to charge the Standard Range Model Y is marginally higher:
- Alberta: $15.48
- British Columbia: $6.84
- Manitoba: $6.12
- New Brunswick: $8.34
- Newfoundland & Labrador: $8.88
- Nova Scotia: $10.98
- Northwest Territories: $24.60
- Nunavut: $21.24
- Ontario: $8.46
- Prince Edward Island: $11.04
- Québec: $4.68
- Saskatchewan: $11.94
- Yukon Territory: $11.22
81-kWh Battery
The Model Y Long Range battery is one less kilowatt hour than the Model 3 Long Range, so the charging costs are basically the same. Here is the breakdown by province:
- Alberta: $20.90
- British Columbia: $9.23
- Manitoba: $8.26
- New Brunswick: $11.26
- Newfoundland & Labrador: $11.99
- Nova Scotia: $14.82
- Northwest Territories: $33.21
- Nunavut: $28.67
- Ontario: $11.42
- Prince Edward Island: $14.90
- Québec: $6.32
- Saskatchewan: $16.12
- Yukon Territory: $15.15
Cost to Charge a Tesla Model S
While the Tesla Model S had a wide range of battery packs throughout its lifespan, the latest models — the base model and Plaid trim — share a 100-kWh unit. The average cost to charge this high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack in each province is as follows.
- Alberta: $25.80
- British Columbia: $11.40
- Manitoba: $10.20
- New Brunswick: $13.90
- Newfoundland & Labrador: $14.80
- Nova Scotia: $18.30
- Northwest Territories: $41.00
- Nunavut: $35.40
- Ontario: $14.10
- Prince Edward Island: $18.40
- Québec: $7.80
- Saskatchewan: $19.90
- Yukon Territory: $18.70
Cost to Charge a Tesla Model X
The flagship Tesla Model X SUV has the same 100-kWh battery pack as the Model S flagship sedan. This means their average full charge cost is the same by province.
- Alberta: $25.80
- British Columbia: $11.40
- Manitoba: $10.20
- New Brunswick: $13.90
- Newfoundland & Labrador: $14.80
- Nova Scotia: $18.30
- Northwest Territories: $41.00
- Nunavut: $35.40
- Ontario: $14.10
- Prince Edward Island: $18.40
- Québec: $7.80
- Saskatchewan: $19.90
- Yukon Territory: $18.70
Cost to Charge a Tesla Cybertruck
The Tesla Cybertruck features a substantial 123-kWh battery pack, making it significantly larger than the 100-kWh packs found in Tesla’s flagship Model S and Model X. As a result, charging the Cybertruck from empty to full will cost more, with exact costs varying by province based on local electricity rates.
- Alberta: $31.73
- British Columbia: $14.02
- Manitoba: $12.55
- New Brunswick: $17.10
- Newfoundland & Labrador: $18.20
- Nova Scotia: $22.51
- Northwest Territories: $50.43
- Nunavut: $43.54
- Ontario: $17.34
- Prince Edward Island: $22.63
- Québec: $9.59
- Saskatchewan: $24.48
- Yukon Territory: $23.00
Home Charging Costs May Vary by Time
While these average charging costs are great for estimating how much it’ll cost you to drive and charge your Tesla, these are only averages. Some provinces have a sliding rate that increases with demand. The charging cost during peak hours may be higher, while charging outside peak hours — typically overnight — will lower your home charging costs.
For the most part, charging Tesla vehicles at home is less than the typical fill-up for a gas-powered car, but some of the peak-hour electricity rates in certain provinces could result in higher costs. However, you can offset this extra cost with solar panels.
Cost to Charge a Tesla at a Public Charging Station
Calculating the cost of charging a Tesla at home is straightforward, but estimating expenses at public charging stations is much more challenging. These stations can set their own rates, which often fluctuate based on factors like time of day and demand.
That said, if your charging session is on a DC fast charger, you can expect to pay an average of $15 per hour, while a Level 2 charger will run $1 per hour or $2.50 per charge.
Tesla owners can also use the Tesla Supercharger stations. Like public EV chargers, Supercharger fees will vary by location and time of day. The Tesla charging network charges by kilowatt hour. Although Tesla does not publicly share the pricing for their charger network, here are owner-reported rates as of September 2024:
- Alberta: $0.71/kWh
- British Columbia: As low as $0.10/kWh
- Manitoba: $0.51/kWh
- Nova Scotia: $0.71/kWh
- Ontario: $0.52–$0.58/kWh (peak); $0.40–$0.45/kWh (off-peak)
- Quebec: $0.42/kWh
- Saskatchewan: $0.58/kWh
In British Columbia, some Supercharger stations offer rates as low as $0.10 per kWh, making it the most affordable province for Supercharging. In contrast, Alberta’s rates have increased to $0.71 per kWh at most stations. Ontario features time-of-use pricing, with peak rates between $0.52 and $0.58 per kWh, and off-peak rates ranging from $0.40 to $0.45 per kWh.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s recommended to check the Tesla app or your vehicle’s navigation system before charging, as prices can fluctuate based on demand and other factors.
Find Your Tesla at Clutch
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