Electric vehicles promise a lot, including lower emissions, less maintenance and high-end tech. But for everyday drivers, the real question is simpler: How much does it actually cost to run one? Not the sticker price or tax incentives. The monthly cost to keep it moving.
Consider the Tesla Model 3 and the gas-powered BMW 3 Series, two well-known sedans with similar performance. One charges up, the other fills up. And when you break down the costs, the gap between them gets surprisingly wide.
Check Out: What Does It Cost To Charge a Tesla Monthly Compared To Gas for a Honda CR-V?
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Charging a Tesla
The Tesla Model 3 rear-wheel drive (RWD) has an EPA-estimated range of 272 miles and a usable battery capacity of 57.5 kilowatt hours (kWh), according to Green Cars Compare. This translates to an efficiency of about 4.61 miles per kWh under ideal conditions.
Assuming an average monthly driving distance of 1,200 miles, the Tesla would use roughly 260 kWh of electricity each month. At the current U.S. average residential electricity rate of 17.45 cents per kWh, according to Choose Energy, monthly charging costs come to about $45.37.
Using Tesla Superchargers or other public fast chargers, which typically cost between 40 and 60 cents per kWh, will raise the monthly cost accordingly if relied upon frequently.
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How Long Does Charging Take?
Charging time depends on how and where it’s done, according to the Department of Transportation.
Level 1 (120V outlet): Two to five miles of range per hour. A full charge could take 40 to 50 hours — only useful for very light driving.
Level 2 (240V home charger): 10 to 20 miles per hour. Fully recharges in about 4 to 10 hours.
Tesla Supercharger: A charge to 80% typically takes 20 minutes to an hour, and adds 180 to 240 miles.
Fuel Cost for a BMW 3 Series
A 2025 BMW 330i averages around 31 miles per gallon combined, according to Edmunds. Driving 1,200 miles per month means buying about 38.7 gallons of gas. At $3.16 per gallon, the national average as of July 2025, that works out to $122.41 per month.
Charging a Tesla Model 3 RWD at home costs about $45 per month, while fueling a BMW 3 Series averages around $122 per month. That’s $77 in monthly savings, or $924 annually, just on energy expenses if you choose the Tesla over the BMW.
Cost Per Mile
Tesla: Uses about 0.22 kWh per mile, with a cost of $0.1745 per kWh. This comes out to roughly 3.8 cents per mile.
BMW 3 Series: With gas prices around $3.16 per gallon and an average fuel economy of 31 miles per gallon, the cost comes to about 10 cents per mile.
Other Cost Considerations
Electric vehicles like the Tesla avoid many routine maintenance expenses common to gas cars, such as no oil changes, no spark plugs and no emissions tests. Regenerative braking also extends brake life, reducing replacement frequency.
BMW owners typically face higher maintenance and repair costs, especially as the vehicle ages, along with fluctuating fuel prices that can spike unexpectedly. In contrast, electricity prices tend to be more stable and predictable.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Does It Cost To Charge a Tesla Monthly Compared To Gas for a BMW 3 Series?
