Compare the real costs of different powertrains (gasoline, diesel, hybrid, electric, gas) and financing options (cash, loan, leasing). See annual costs, cost per kilometer, and which option is cheapest for you.
ℹ️ This is an indicative estimate using 2026 average prices. Actual costs depend on the model, driving style, energy contract, insurer and location. Home charging is cheapest for EVs — public fast charging may cost $0.40–0.60/kWh.
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The car cost comparison helps you find out which powertrain is cheapest for you when you compare electric, petrol, diesel and leasing cars on the same assumptions. Your choice then rests on real running costs, not just the purchase price.
How the calculator works and what it’s for▾
How the comparison works
The calculator gathers the total cost of a car for each powertrain and puts them on a comparable footing. Energy prices, your annual mileage and how long you plan to keep the car weigh especially heavily.
An electric car may cost more to buy but less to drive, while a combustion car can work out cheaper with low mileage. The comparison brings these differences onto the same line.
What you enter and what you get
You provide your mileage and the key costs of each option, such as energy or fuel prices and the car's consumption. You can also factor in the purchase and the leasing terms.
The result shows which option is cheapest for your usage profile and how large the gaps are. That helps you look beyond the price at the pump.
Who it is for
The comparison serves anyone considering a new car who is torn between electric and combustion. It also suits people weighing ownership against leasing for work or personal use.
For high-mileage drivers running costs matter most, and that is exactly when the comparison delivers the greatest value for the decision.
Tips for reading it
Use a realistic annual mileage, since it often decides the outcome of the comparison. An overly optimistic or pessimistic figure can flip the order.
Remember that energy price alone does not tell the whole story. Include servicing, insurance and how the car's value develops so the picture across powertrains stays fair.
🔄 Reviewed June 2026
Frequently asked questions
An EV is usually cheaper to run when you drive over 15,000 km a year and can charge at home (~$0.18/kWh). Energy costs are typically $3–5/100km vs. $11–13/100km for gasoline — a saving of $800–1,500/year. However, the higher purchase price and depreciation of an EV narrow the gap. This calculator shows the total cost.
A regular hybrid (HEV) charges its battery via braking and cannot be plugged in — consumption is around 4–5 l/100km. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is charged from a socket and drives short trips on electricity alone (~40–60 km), keeping fuel use below 3 l/100km if you charge regularly. Without charging, a PHEV consumes like a normal car.
Leasing suits you if you want a fixed monthly fee with no resale risk and change cars every 3–4 years — service and depreciation are included. Buying (cash or loan) is usually cheaper long term, especially if you keep the car over 5 years. Leasing often costs more overall but is predictable and hassle-free.
Fuel/energy, vehicle tax, insurance (liability + comprehensive), service and repairs, financing costs (loan interest or leasing fee), and depreciation. Depreciation is often the biggest single cost on a new car — it can lose 15–20% of its value in the first year. This calculator accounts for all of these.
A gas car (CNG/biogas) uses about 4–5 kg/100km, and gas costs around $1.30–1.50/kg, giving a running cost of about $6–7/100km — between gasoline and electricity. Biogas is also eco-friendly. The downside is a sparser refuelling network concentrated in cities and main routes.
Vehicle tax consists of a base tax (based on CO₂ emissions) and, for diesel cars, an additional driving-power tax that is clearly higher than gasoline. That is why diesel only pays off with high mileage. EVs have a low base tax and moderate driving-power tax. The calculator uses powertrain-specific averages.
Cite this calculator
APACalcBrew. (2026). Car Cost Comparison. https://calcbrew.com/car-cost-comparison