Gas vs Electric · Real running cost
Tesla Model 3: charging cost vs gas
We've set the Tesla Model 3 as your EV below. Pick the gas car you'd compare against, set your prices and miles, and see the real cost difference — and the break-even.
When you come out ahead
Showing cumulative fuel savings. Add the two cars' prices in the controls to plot your exact break-even point.
Carvana, insurance, financing & charger links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
The Model 3 is about as cheap to run as a new car gets. At roughly 4 miles per kWh it's one of the most efficient EVs on sale, so each mile costs a fraction of what a 30-mpg gas sedan burns — and the gap only widens as gas prices climb.
Charged at home overnight, the Model 3 routinely costs the equivalent of paying well under a dollar a gallon. The catch is the sticker price: the savings are real, but how fast they pay back the EV premium depends on how many miles you drive and what you'd have paid for gas.
What to keep in mind
- Top-tier efficiency (~4 mi/kWh) makes it one of the cheapest EVs to run.
- Biggest savings if you drive a lot and charge at home on a normal rate.
- Public fast-charging on road trips costs much more than home charging — factor your mix.
Tesla Model 3: common questions
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model 3?
At the U.S. average home electricity price of about 17¢/kWh and roughly 4 mi/kWh, a Tesla Model 3 costs about 4¢ per mile to charge at home — around $510 a year at 12,000 miles. Public DC fast-charging costs more, so set your home/public mix in the calculator.
Is a Tesla Model 3 cheaper to run than a gas car?
Charging at home, usually yes. Against a typical 32-mpg gas sedan, the Tesla Model 3's per-mile fuel cost is much lower — the calculator shows your annual fuel saving and how long the price difference takes to pay back.