Sedan comparison
Tesla Model 3 vs Toyota Prius
Which costs less to own over 5 years? Compare purchase price, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation — then customize with your own numbers.
Tesla Model 3 vs Toyota Prius: Quick Verdict
Based on average driving (12,000 miles/year), the Toyota Prius costs approximately $7,834 less over 5 years compared to the Tesla Model 3. The gas vehicle's lower purchase price outweighs the EV's fuel savings at this mileage.
Tesla Model 3
$38,630
purchase price
Toyota Prius
$33,495
purchase price
Gas saves
$7,834
over 5 years
Customize your mileage, gas price, and electricity rate below to get a personalized comparison.
Your Numbers
Adjust the inputs to match your situation. Results update instantly.
Average American drives ~13,500 miles/year
Charge at home overnight — cheapest option
Enter what you actually pay to charge. On a time-of-use or EV plan (cheap overnight rates) or with solar, your rate may be well below the state average, e.g. 8¢ overnight vs 12¢ standard.
Toyota Prius Is Cheaper
Gas saves you
$7,834
over 5 years
EV saves per month
$29
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
27.8 years
beyond ownership
The Toyota Prius costs $7,834 less over 5 years than the Tesla Model 3.
These vehicles are in different classes. The comparison is still valid but keep the size/class difference in mind.
Operating cost payback falls outside your ownership period. You may not recover the extra upfront cost through fuel and maintenance savings alone.
Gas saves you
$7,834
over 5 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$29
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
27.8 years
beyond ownership period
Vehicles compared
Model 3 · Prius · Camry Hybrid
EV · Gas · Hybrid
Full Cost Breakdown
| Tesla Model 3Standard RWDElectric | Toyota PriusXLE FWDHybrid | Toyota Camry HybridLE hybrid FWDBestHybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $38,630 | $33,495 | $30,995 |
| Monthly Fuel | $32 | $69 | $69 |
| Annual Fuel | $379 | $824 | $824 |
| Total Fuel | $1,895 | $4,118 | $4,118 |
| Total Maintenance | $2,750 | $4,250 | $4,750 |
| Total Insurance | $10,000 | $8,000 | $8,500 |
| Resale Value | $17,384 | $21,805 | $21,697 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $35,892 | $28,057 | $26,666 |
Tesla Model 3
Standard RWD
Electric
Toyota Prius
XLE FWD
Hybrid
Toyota Camry Hybrid
LE hybrid FWD
Hybrid
Cost Over 5 Years
Why This Result
The gas vehicle's lower purchase price and depreciation outweigh the EV's fuel savings at your current mileage. Consider the Toyota Camry Hybrid as a middle ground — it costs $1,391 less than pure gas. Driving more or higher gas prices could change this.
Fuel vs Charging
Charging the Model 3 costs about $379/year vs $824/year for gas in the Prius. That's $444/year in fuel savings alone.
Your electricity rate matters
Home charging is the EV's biggest lever. Every 1¢/kWh lower saves about $29/year ($146 over 5 years) for the Model 3. Charging from rooftop solar can lower it further. Enter your actual overnight or solar rate above to see your own numbers.
Maintenance
EVs have fewer moving parts — no oil changes, less brake wear, no transmission fluid. The Model 3 saves roughly $1500 in maintenance over the ownership period.
Depreciation & Resale
The Prius holds 65% of its value vs 45% for the Model 3. Purchase price and resale value are often the largest factors in total cost of ownership.
Insurance
EV insurance tends to run higher due to specialized repair costs. We've included $2,000/year for the Model 3 vs $1,600/year for the Prius in the total comparison.
Share Your Result
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At my mileage, the Toyota Prius beats the Tesla Model 3 by $7,834 over 5 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com
About the Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is a fully electric sedan with an efficiency of 0.243 kWh per mile. Priced at $38,630, it costs around $550/year to maintain and $2,000/year to insure. It's widely regarded as the Best Value EV option in its class.
About the Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid sedan achieving 51 MPG. Priced at $33,495, it costs around $850/year to maintain and $1,600/year to insure. Note that these vehicles are in different classes — keep size and use-case differences in mind.
How We Calculate Total Cost
Total cost of ownership includes purchase price, fuel or charging costs over your ownership period, annual maintenance, annual insurance, minus estimated resale value based on depreciation. This gives you the true all-in cost of each vehicle — not just the sticker price.