Man calculates stark cost difference between charging Tesla Model S monthly vs buying gas for Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Published on Mar 11, 2026 at 4:56 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 10, 2026 at 6:58 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
If you have ever wondered how much it costs to recharge a Tesla Model S EV vs buying gasoline for a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, well, wonder no more.
A reporter for Go Banking Rates has compared the two vehicles to see if recharging an EV is cheaper than refuelling a gasoline-powered car.
We have all probably had pre-conceived thoughts as to how much a gas car versus an electric one costs, even with more data becoming available.
Yet this study revealed the stark contrast in price between the two, and the results will shock you.
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This is how much it costs to fuel a Mercedes-Benz S-Class
There is no denying how good a car the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is.
For the study on gasoline prices, the chosen model was a 2025 S-Class 500 4MATIC sedan.
With a starting price of $119,500, the car has a 442hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine under the hood.
Fuel economy was rated at 24mpg combined, with 21 in the city and 31 on the highway.
US drivers do around 1,123 miles a month, which gives them a figure to work with.
That saw a spend of roughly $155.35 per month on fuel.
This, of course, can change with different gas prices in different areas.
No matter the price, however, that is not cheap.
An average of just 24mpg also isn’t as good as many other cars currently on sale.
So, how does that compare to the electric Tesla Model S?
This is what it costs to recharge a Tesla Model S EV
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) data says that the average American drives 1,123 miles per month, the same figure they applied to the S-Class.
Using that as a baseline, Go Banking Rates also worked out that a Tesla Model S Long Range averages around 122mpge.
This equals 276 watt-hours per mile, or 3.6 miles per kWh.
That is with the 19-inch wheels on the car.
AAA worked out that West Virginia has the highest cost per kWh at $0.523, versus Kansas at $0.262.
But it is the home charging where you can really see a difference in the ultimate savings.
Charge up a Model S at home, and Tesla’s charging calculator says you may spend just $50.53 per month.
That represents a huge saving of $104.82 over the Mercedes.
So, yes, you can save a lot of money with a Tesla Model S versus a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
