Calculate trip fuel costs and compare vehicles side by side.
Stop doing complex calculations by hand or searching for formulas. Fuel Cost Calculator lets you calculate trip fuel costs and compare vehicles side by side in seconds with a clean, easy-to-use interface. Enter your values and get instant, accurate results along with step-by-step breakdowns where applicable.
Fill your tank completely, reset your trip odometer to zero, then drive normally until near empty. Fill up again and note the gallons added. Divide the miles driven by gallons added. For example: 300 miles ÷ 10 gallons = 30 MPG. For the most accurate result, repeat over multiple fill-ups and average the results.
Diesel fuel typically costs more per gallon, but diesel engines are 20–35% more fuel-efficient. This often makes diesel cheaper per mile, especially on highway driving. For example, a diesel car averaging 45 MPG at $4.50/gal costs ~$0.10/mile, while a gas car at 32 MPG at $3.50/gal costs ~$0.11/mile. The math changes based on the price gap in your area.
EVs typically cost $0.03–$0.05 per mile to charge vs $0.10–$0.15 per mile for gasoline — about 3–4x cheaper. A 150-mile trip in a gas car (30 MPG, $3.50/gal) costs ~$17.50, while the same trip in an EV (3 miles/kWh, $0.13/kWh) costs ~$6.50. The savings add up significantly over time, especially for high-mileage drivers.