CheckPre

Tesla Model 3 vs Toyota Camry Cost of Ownership

Tesla Model 3 against the Toyota Camry Hybrid, one of the most efficient gas cars on sale: 7-year cost of ownership in your state.

Updated · By Niraj Kumar · 6 sources

The cars

$

Standard RWD starting price. Replace it with your quote.

$

LE Hybrid FWD, 51 mpg combined.

Where and how you charge

%
0%100%

The rest is public fast charging. Most owners with a driveway charge 80-90% at home.

¢/kWh

California residential average (EIA). Enter the all-in rate from your bill to override.

¢/kWh

Driving

years
1 yr10 yrs
$per gallon

California average for regular (AAA).

Fine-tune

%
0%10%
%
0%10%
%
0%8%

About 2% is typical; the loss slows after that. Hot climates and frequent fast charging push it up.

$

The federal credit ended for cars bought after 30 September 2025.

$

Set to 0 if you already have one or will use a standard outlet.

$
$

Assumed full coverage; replace both with quotes.

How you payHow you pay
Over 7 yearsGas saves $7,319The EV does not catch up within 7 years

The Tesla Model 3 costs 9.1¢ a mile to charge, against 12.1¢ a mile in gas for the Toyota Camry.

Tesla Model 3, total cost
$59,551
70.9¢ a mile, all in
Toyota Camry, total cost
$52,232
62.2¢ a mile, all in
EV price premium repaid
Not in 7 yrs
from running savings, before resale
Battery at the end
92%
about 296 of 321 miles of range
CO₂ avoided
6.8 tonnes
at the US grid average
Cost of ownership if sold at the end of each yearTesla Model 3Toyota Camry
$0$20 K$40 K$60 K$59.55 K$52.23 K1234567
Cash saved by choosing the EV, before resaleStill to recoverAhead
$-10 K$-8 K$-6 K$-4 K$-2 K$001234567
Where the money goes over 7 years
CostTesla Model 3Toyota Camry
Purchase less resale$28,514$18,794
Charging or gas$8,350$10,828
Maintenance$5,040$7,560
Insurance$16,800$15,050
EV registration fees$847$0
Total$59,551$52,232
Year-by-year costs and battery healthShow
YearChargingGasBatteryRangeEV cost to dateGas car cost to date
1$1,095$1,45698%313 mi$17,314$12,087
2$1,129$1,48696%310 mi$26,122$19,574
3$1,160$1,51595%306 mi$33,852$26,475
4$1,192$1,54695%304 mi$40,875$33,098
5$1,225$1,57794%301 mi$47,190$39,444
6$1,258$1,60893%298 mi$53,539$45,822
7$1,292$1,64092%296 mi$59,551$52,232

How the Tesla Model 3 vs Toyota Camry Cost of Ownership works

TCO = Price × (1 + tax) − rebates + charger + Σ₍y₎ [energy₍y₎ + maintenance + insurance + fees] + interest − resale₍N₎

This page uses the same method as the EV vs Gas Total Cost of Ownership Calculator, which explains each term and assumption in full.

Worked example

A Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD ($36,990) against a Toyota Camry LE Hybrid FWD ($30,795) in California, driven 12,000 miles a year for 7 years, paid in cash, charging 80% at home.

  1. 1Home electricity costs about 33.6¢ a kWh; with 20% fast charging at 48.0¢ the blend is 36.5¢
  2. 2At 25 kWh/100 mi the Tesla Model 3 costs 9.1¢ a mile; at 51 mpg and $6.19 a gallon the Toyota Camry costs 12.1¢ a mile
  3. 3Buying costs $41,830 for the EV with tax and a home charger, against $33,576
  4. 4After 7 years the battery keeps about 92% of its capacity, and the cars would sell for about $13,316 and $14,782

Over 7 years the Tesla Model 3 costs $59,551 to own and the Toyota Camry $52,232, so the gas car comes out $7,319 cheaper at these assumptions.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 51 mpg Camry Hybrid close the fuel-cost gap?

Largely. At 51 mpg the Camry Hybrid uses a gallon every 51 miles, so its cost per mile is close to an EV's on public fast charging. The Model 3 only pulls well ahead when most of its charging is done at home, and furthest ahead on a utility's overnight rate.

How much more does the Tesla Model 3 cost upfront than the Toyota Camry?

Paid in cash in California, the Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD costs $41,830 on day one with sales tax and a home charger, against $33,576 for the Toyota Camry LE Hybrid FWD, $8,254 more. Charging then costs about $1,095 a year against $1,456 in gas at 12,000 miles, a difference of $362 a year before maintenance and insurance.

Sources

Related calculators

More in Energy, Solar & EV