Full breakdown reveals how much it costs a month to charge a Tesla compared to a Honda Civic hybrid
Published on Sep 23, 2025 at 5:39 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Sep 23, 2025 at 5:39 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
A full breakdown reveals the cost of running a Tesla Model 3 and a Tesla Model Y LR AWD compared to a Honda Civic hybrid for the month.
The Honda Civic launched back in 1972, with a hybrid option joining the line-up for the vehicle’s seventh generation.
Today, the Honda Civic Hybrid is one of the best-selling hybrid models in the US.
But how does it compare to an all-electric when it comes to running costs?
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How does a Tesla EV compare to the Honda Civic hybrid?
There are plenty of Tesla and EV owners who are happy to share how much they’ve saved since switching from a gas-powered vehicle to an all-electric.
There are also various reports and studies, helping consumers work out how much they could save by swapping their ICE vehicle for an EV.
However, there’s less information about the cost of running an EV compared to a hybrid.
But now, GOBankingRates has crunched the numbers and worked out the average monthly running costs of a Tesla Model 3, a Tesla Model Y LR AWD, and a Honda Civic hybrid.
First up, the Tesla Model 3 costs an average of $43.67 to charge per month, based on a driving limit of 1,000 miles and using a Level 2 home AC charger.
Next up, the Tesla Y LR is a little more expensive, costing $47.17 per month to cover the same number of miles.
For what it’s worth, choosing a performance trim version would see that number bumped up to $54.16 for the Model 3, and $55.90 for the Model Y.
Even so, it would still cost more to run the Honda Civic hybrid.
Although the Honda Civic is a hybrid, it’s not a plug-in hybrid, so it can’t be charged to save money on gas.
Which means that a driver would need to fork out around $65.14 for gas to keep it going for 1,000 miles a month.
It’s a different story when using only public fast-chargers
The figures above are based on exclusively charging the Tesla at home.
If the cars were topped up only using the DC chargers, costing around 45 cents per kWh, it would cost $112.50 for 1,000 miles of driving in the Tesla Model 3.
The Tesla Model Y LR AW is more expensive again, costing $121.50 for the same mileage.
However, when it comes to EV versus ICE vehicles, even using nothing but public chargers still works out cheaper than forking out for gas.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
