Electric Car vs Petrol Cost per km in Saudi Arabia: Fuel and Electricity Comparison

Key Takeaways

• Regulated fuel prices in Saudi Arabia establish Gasoline 91 at SAR 2.18 per liter, Gasoline 95 at SAR 2.33 per liter, and diesel at SAR 1.79 per liter.
• Residential electricity for home EV charging operates at 18 halalas per kWh for monthly consumption up to 6000 kWh, with national residential electricity averaging SAR 0.200 per kWh.
• Home charging represents the most economical method for operating an electric vehicle, delivering significant energy savings compared to conventional internal combustion fuel expenses.
• Commercial electricity tariffs apply at 22 halalas per kWh up to 6000 kWh and 32 halalas per kWh for higher volumes for business and commercial fleet depots.
• Public fast charging on the national network is billed at 0.65 SAR / kWh for DC fast charging up to 50 kW, and 0.99 SAR / kWh for high-power dispensers up to 150 kW and 400 kW.
• Choosing home charging over retail petrol significantly reduces recurring vehicle expenditure across urban passenger and commercial operations.

Regulated Fuel Price Benchmarks in Saudi Arabia

Evaluating the operating costs of electric mobility against internal combustion engine vehicles requires analyzing officially regulated retail fuel prices. Fuel prices across the Kingdom are governed by national energy policies and periodic price reviews.

The price of Gasoline 91 has been fixed at SAR 2.18 per liter, establishing a competitive baseline for daily commuting. Motorists operating higher-compression vehicles utilize Gasoline 95 in Saudi Arabia at SAR 2.33 per liter, while premium Gasoline 98 is set at SAR 4.51 per liter.

For commercial transport operators, diesel pricing has seen upward structural adjustments. The price of diesel in Saudi Arabia increased to SAR 1.79 per liter at the beginning of 2026. This followed earlier reforms where Saudi Arabia had previously raised diesel prices by approximately 53% at the beginning of 2024, bringing the price to SAR 1.15 per liter. These adjustments have accelerated commercial interest in fleet electrification.

Electricity Tariffs: Residential Home Charging vs Commercial Rates

The financial viability of operating an electric car depends heavily on the source of electricity used for battery charging. For the majority of private vehicle owners, home charging overnight provides the primary source of replenishment.

Electricity supplied to domestic properties is regulated under utility tariff slabs established by national authorities:

The residential electricity tariff in Saudi Arabia is 18 halalas per kWh for consumption up to 6000 kWh per month, and 30 halalas per kWh for consumption exceeding 6000 kWh per month. On an all-inclusive national basis, the residential electricity price in Saudi Arabia is SAR 0.200 per kWh.

At 18 halalas per kWh, home EV charging provides a very low energy cost base. When vehicles are plugged into dedicated wallboxes overnight, the electricity cost required to replenish the battery remains substantially below the cost of purchasing equivalent petrol at SAR 2.18 per liter or SAR 2.33 per liter.

Public Charging Economics: Fast DC and Ultra-Fast Dispensers

While home charging serves as the primary energy foundation, public DC charging provides essential en-route convenience for intercity highway transit and rapid daytime top-ups.

Public charging across the Kingdom is provided through standardized infrastructure with transparent tariffs based on charger power output:

On the national public charging network, charging at an Alpitronic HYC50 dispenser operating up to 50 kW is billed at 0.65 SAR / kWh. When using ultra-fast charging hardware, such as the Alpitronic HYC150 rated up to 150 kW or the Alpitronic HYC400 rated up to 400 kW, the tariff is 0.99 SAR / kWh.

All public dispensers deploy the standard CCS2 connector interface. While charging at 0.99 SAR / kWh is higher than the domestic tariff of 18 halalas per kWh, it remains competitive with retail petrol while providing rapid turnaround for highway journeys.

Practical Running Cost Dynamics

Drivers evaluating the switch from petrol to electric propulsion experience different economic outcomes based on their typical charging routines:

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For motorists who perform the majority of their charging at home on the 18 halalas per kWh tier, fuel expenses are minimized. Even when factoring in summer air conditioning loads, the cost of grid power remains stable compared to retail petrol.

Commercial operators facing diesel prices of SAR 1.79 per liter can achieve significant operational expenditure reductions by adopting electric light commercial vehicles charged at depot facilities operating on commercial utility rates of 22 halalas to 32 halalas per kWh. Overall, the combination of regulated electricity tariffs and expanding public charging makes electric mobility a financially sound choice in Saudi Arabia.