Tesla Model S
vs BMW 5 Series
$142 a month cheaper to fuel
$1,704 a year. That's the fuel saving for a 2026 Tesla Model S over a 2026 BMW 540i xDrive at 12,000 miles a year on US average prices: $50 a month to charge at home vs $192 in gas. Electricity is 18.31¢ per kWh (July 2026, EIA) and premium gas is $5.37 a gallon (week of Oct 12, 2026, EIA). Gas would have to fall to $1.39 a gallon for the 540i to tie, or home electricity climb to 70.6¢ per kWh.
The Model S against the 540i xDrive, BMW's six-cylinder all-wheel-drive 5 Series. The EPA lists premium gasoline for it, so the gas side uses EIA's premium price.
Run these two with your miles and ratesState by stateFuel a month, 1,000 miles. Biggest saving first.
The Model S saves the most in Washington, $2,066 a year, where cheap power meets $5.94 gas. It wins in all 51, even Hawaii at 48.00¢ per kWh.
| State | Model S | 540i | Saves / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40 | $212 | +$2,066 |
| Nevada | $35 | $205 | +$2,042 |
| Arizona | $42 | $205 | +$1,957 |
| Oregon | $43 | $205 | +$1,938 |
| North Dakota | $36 | $188 | +$1,817 |
| Tennessee | $37 | $188 | +$1,807 |
| Nebraska | $37 | $188 | +$1,805 |
| Kentucky | $37 | $188 | +$1,804 |
| Oklahoma | $39 | $188 | +$1,787 |
| Utah | $36 | $182 | +$1,761 |
| Kansas | $41 | $188 | +$1,757 |
| South Dakota | $42 | $188 | +$1,753 |
| Idaho | $37 | $182 | +$1,741 |
| Iowa | $43 | $188 | +$1,733 |
| Missouri | $44 | $188 | +$1,730 |
| Wyoming | $39 | $182 | +$1,721 |
| California | $91 | $234 | +$1,720 |
| Indiana | $45 | $188 | +$1,709 |
| Montana | $41 | $182 | +$1,700 |
| Delaware | $50 | $187 | +$1,638 |
| Minnesota | $47 | $184 | +$1,638 |
| Wisconsin | $52 | $188 | +$1,633 |
| Illinois | $52 | $188 | +$1,628 |
| Louisiana | $35 | $168 | +$1,605 |
| Florida | $41 | $171 | +$1,558 |
| North Carolina | $41 | $171 | +$1,555 |
| Arkansas | $39 | $168 | +$1,552 |
| Colorado | $46 | $175 | +$1,548 |
| Mississippi | $39 | $168 | +$1,546 |
| South Carolina | $42 | $171 | +$1,545 |
| Maryland | $58 | $187 | +$1,543 |
| West Virginia | $43 | $171 | +$1,535 |
| Ohio | $53 | $181 | +$1,534 |
| Pennsylvania | $59 | $187 | +$1,533 |
| Alaska | $78 | $205 | +$1,519 |
| Georgia | $44 | $171 | +$1,519 |
| Michigan | $63 | $188 | +$1,503 |
| Vermont | $64 | $189 | +$1,499 |
| New Mexico | $44 | $168 | +$1,495 |
| Connecticut | $66 | $189 | +$1,485 |
| Alabama | $44 | $168 | +$1,485 |
| Virginia | $48 | $171 | +$1,477 |
| Texas | $43 | $166 | +$1,471 |
| New Jersey | $68 | $187 | +$1,420 |
| District of Columbia | $68 | $187 | +$1,419 |
| New Hampshire | $72 | $189 | +$1,406 |
| Rhode Island | $77 | $189 | +$1,351 |
| New York | $81 | $188 | +$1,288 |
| Massachusetts | $83 | $190 | +$1,283 |
| Maine | $88 | $189 | +$1,217 |
| Hawaii | $130 | $205 | +$895 |
Electricity is each state's July 2026 residential average. Gas is the state's own EIA weekly series where one exists and its region's average otherwise; each state page says which.
City vs highwayCost per 100 miles at US average prices.
| Driving | Model S | 540i | Tesla saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| City | 25.6 kWh, $4.69 | 26 MPG, $20.64 | +$15.95 |
| Highway | 29.0 kWh, $5.30 | 32 MPG, $16.77 | +$11.46 |
| Combined (55/45) | 27.1 kWh, $4.97 | 28 MPG, $19.16 | +$14.20 |
The gap is widest in city driving: the Model S uses 25.6 kWh per 100 miles there and the 540i gets 26 MPG. In highway driving it narrows to $11.46 per 100 miles. Stop-and-go traffic is where a gas engine wastes the most, so city drivers save the most by switching. EPA's combined rating weights city 55% and highway 45%, which is what every other number on this page uses.
Which version you buy matters2026 EPA ratings, 1,000 miles a month, US average prices.
| Gas version | MPG | Gas / mo | Saves / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 540i xDrive (premium) | 28 | $192 | +$1,704 |
| BMW 530i xDrive (premium) | 30 | $179 | +$1,550 |
Beyond the fuel billRange, home charging, tailpipe.
Range. The EPA rates the Tesla Model S at 410 miles on a charge. On a 48A home charger it adds about 38 miles an hour, so a typical day's driving (about 33 miles) goes back in 50 min. Level 1 vs Level 2.
Tailpipe. The 540i puts out 308 grams of CO2 per mile (EPA), about 308 kg over 1,000 miles. The Model S has no tailpipe; its emissions depend on how your grid makes power.
Second opinion. fueleconomy.gov's own yearly fuel cost estimate, at 15,000 miles and its national prices, is $600 for the Model S and $2,900 for the 540i. See EPA's side by side.
What this leaves out. Purchase price, insurance and maintenance usually move the total more than fuel does, and Supercharging on road trips costs more than home power. The calculator has fields for payment, insurance and maintenance.
More Model S matchups
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Gas prices by city
Electricity: residential average, July 2026, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A. Gas: regular retail, week of Oct 12, 2026, EIA weekly retail gasoline by area. Efficiency: EPA combined kWh per 100 miles, which already includes charging losses, from fueleconomy.gov. Monthly figures use 1,000 miles. Premium: week of Oct 12, 2026, EIA weekly retail premium gasoline by area. Vehicle ratings: 2026 model year, fueleconomy.gov web services.
Home charger picks
Charge it at home
Home charging is how you get the prices on this page. These are the three Level 2 chargers I'd buy, Amazon prices from Oct 19, 2026.
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