How much does it cost to charge a Rivian R1S in California?

California's 12-month average rate, 32.3¢/kWh, is 79% above the U.S. average of 18.0¢/kWh, so the Rivian R1S costs $6.13 more per 100 miles here than at the national rate.

Rates in California are rising: the latest 12-month average is 3.7% higher than in the 12 months before.

In the last 24 months both the cheapest and the most expensive month fell in spring, so the swing reflects price changes rather than a seasonal pattern: April 2025 at 27.8¢/kWh and April 2026 at 35.3¢/kWh, which moves the Rivian R1S's monthly charging cost between $121 and $154. The latest published month, August 2026, came in at 29.8¢/kWh, 8% below the 12-month average.

Of the 5 states covered so far, California is the most expensive place to charge the Rivian R1S; in Washington it costs $6.09 per 100 miles.

Among the 10 EVs on OutletBill, the Rivian R1S is the 10th cheapest to charge per mile in California, the most expensive we track; the Tesla Model 3 costs $7.86 per 100 miles here.

Of the 3 standard SUVs on OutletBill, the Rivian R1S costs the most to charge in California; the Honda Prologue does the same 100 miles for $10.52.

At 42.9 kWh per 100 miles, the 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Standard (20-in) is among the least efficient EVs EPA has rated for 2026: 80% of the 321 versions tested use less energy.

EPA rates the 2026 R1S Dual Standard (20-in) at the same efficiency as the 2025 version, 42.9 kWh per 100 miles, with the same 258-mile range.

Across all 25 trims of the 2026 R1S, cost per 100 miles in California ranges from $12.76 for the Dual Large (22-in) to $16.20 for the Quad Max (20-in AT), a difference of $419 a year at 1,016 miles a month.

EPA estimates 9.5 hours to charge the R1S Dual Standard (20-in) from empty on a 240-volt Level 2 home charger, longer than a typical night, though a full charge is rarely needed. At 1,016 miles a month (about 33 miles a day), a day's driving takes roughly 1 hour on a Level 2 charger.

Electricity would have to cost more than 49.5¢/kWh, 1.5 times California's rate, before the Rivian R1S cost more per mile than the 2027 BMW X5 40 xDrive. Put the other way, gas would have to fall below $3.60 a gallon.

Gas costs use EIA's California retail average for premium gasoline ($5.51 a gallon over the same 12 months, 20% above the U.S. average of $4.58) and the 2027 BMW X5 40 xDrive's EPA rating of 26 mpg combined. EPA lists premium fuel for the 2027 BMW X5 40 xDrive, so the comparison uses premium prices.