EV vs Gas Cost in Illinois (2026)
Whether an EV beats a gas car in Illinois comes down to four local numbers: what you pay for gas, what you pay for electricity, what the state charges EV owners, and what it costs to insure. Here is exactly where Illinois stands in 2026 — with a calculator below preloaded for the state so you can run your own miles and loan terms.
Regular gas averages $4.49/gallon in Illinois while residential electricity runs $0.189/kWh. At $0.189/kWh, charging a Model Y at home in Illinois costs about 5.1¢ per mile. A comparable 25-mpg gas SUV burns about 18.0¢ per mile — roughly 3.5× as much as charging the EV at home.
Illinois EV cost factors at a glance
| Regular gas (average) | $4.49/gal |
|---|---|
| Residential electricity | $0.189/kWh |
| Home charging — Tesla Model Y (reference EV) | ~5.1¢/mi |
| Gas — comparable 25-mpg SUV | ~18.0¢/mi |
| Annual EV registration fee | $100 |
| Model Y (reference EV) insurance, est. | ~$1,562/yr |
| Vehicle sales tax | 6.25% |
Illinois levies a $100/year EV registration surcharge — a recurring cost a gas car never pays. Insurance helps too: Illinois is cheaper than the national average, so a Model Y costs only about $1,562/year to insure for full coverage.
Run your own Illinois numbers
The calculator below is preloaded with Illinois's gas, electricity, EV fees, sales tax, and insurance. Set your annual miles, how long you'll keep the car, and your loan terms to see the year-by-year cost and your exact break-even month — and an honest verdict when a gas car would actually cost less.
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Other states: California · Florida · New York · Washington · Georgia · New Jersey · Arizona · Colorado · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · Massachusetts · Ohio · Michigan · Virginia
→ Compare EV cost across all states · EV fees by state
Illinois figures are 2026 estimates — gas from AAA/EIA, electricity from the EIA, registration fees from NCSL/state DOT sources, sales tax from state schedules, and insurance from state-average full-coverage data. Verify specifics for your situation. The $7,500 federal EV credit ended September 30, 2025 and is not applied.
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