EV True Cost

2026 Tesla Model Y cost to own in South Dakota

Electricity & gas updated · insurance, fees & incentives reviewed June 17, 2026 (estimates)

Bottom line

The Tesla Model Y costs about $8,800 more to own than the Mazda CX-5 here today — but it pulls ahead on total cost to own if you drive more than 42,000 mi/yr (you're at 12,000) or gas tops $6.91/gal (now $3.10).

Annual charging cost

$720

$0.06/mi at $0.12/kWh

5-year cost to own

$46,200

≈ $9,230/yr all-in

5-year cost vs Mazda CX-5

+$8,800

more to own · fuel alone saves $710/yr

Charging a 2026 Tesla Model Y at home in South Dakota costs about $722 a year at the state's average residential rate of $0.12/kWh — near the national middle (13th of 51) — or roughly $0.06 per mile. With South Dakota gasoline near $3.10 a gallon (near the national middle), a comparable Mazda CX-5 would burn about $1,431 of fuel over the same 12,000 miles, so the Model Y saves roughly $708 a year at the pump. On fuel alone, gas would have to fall below $1.57 a gallon for the CX-5 to cost as little to fuel as the EV costs to charge (the fuel break-even).

South Dakota's annual registration runs about $50. There is no state purchase incentive, and the federal credit ended in late 2025. All told, the five-year cost to own comes to about $46,200 — roughly $9,230 a year. Against a comparable Mazda CX-5 — counting its depreciation, insurance, fuel, and upkeep — that's about $8,800 more to own over five years, since the federal credit is gone and the EV's insurance and fees run higher.

Adjust the assumptions

Every figure below is editable and every formula is shown. Defaults use South Dakota averages and EPA efficiency for the Tesla Model Y.

Prices updated June 2026 · South Dakota averages

Driving profile

Driving & vehicle
mi/yr
kWh/100mi

EPA combined. Lower is more efficient.

%

Wall → battery losses (AC charging ≈ 88%).

Electricity
$/kWh
%

Rest is public DC fast charging.

$/kWh
Gas comparison
mpg
$/gal
Ownership costs — depreciation, insurance & fees
$
$/yr
$/yr
$/yr
$

State + federal. Verify current amounts.

Depreciation is usually the largest line — and the biggest source of uncertainty — so tune it to your own resale outlook. Insurance, registration & incentives default to South Dakota estimates.

Comparison car: Mazda CX-5 ownership
$
$/yr
$/yr
$/yr

Defaults: depreciation & maintenance from CX-5 data; insurance ≈ 87% of the EV figure; registration assumes no EV road-use fee.

Precision: utility plan, L2 charger, escalation
$
$
%/yr

Grows the 5-yr energy cost. Off (0%) by default.

%/yr

0% = cash. Adds loan interest to both cars.

Set time-of-use rates manually above. Real utility plans aren't loaded for this state yet.

Annual energy

≈ $720

$0.06/mi

5-year cost to own

≈ $46,200

≈ $9,230/yr all-in

5-yr vs Mazda CX-5

+$8,800

more to own

Energy use & cost (per year)

Electricity drawn from wall3,818 kWh
Home (80%)3,055 kWh · $379
Public (20%)764 kWh · $344
Annual energy cost$722
EV cost per mile$0.06/mi

Gas comparison (Mazda CX-5)

Fuel burned462 gal/yr
Annual gas cost$1,431
Annual fuel savings (EV)$708
Gas cost per mile$0.12/mi
Fuel break-even gas price$1.57/gal

Below this pump price, the Mazda CX-5 is cheaper to fuel than the EV is to charge; above it, the EV wins. (This is fuel only — see total cost to own below.)

5-year total cost of ownership

Energy (5 yr)$3,612
Insurance (5 yr)$12,950
Maintenance (5 yr)$3,250
Registration (5 yr)$250
Operating subtotal (5 yr)$20,062
Depreciation (estimate)$26,094
Incentives (one-time)− $0
Total 5-year cost$46,156
Per year · per mile$9,231 · $0.77/mi

The operating subtotal is the data-backed part. Depreciation is an estimate and is usually the largest single line — adjust it to your own resale outlook.

5-year cost to own: EV vs gas

Tesla Model Y (EV)$46,156
Mazda CX-5 (gas)$37,369
EV costs more to own by$8,787

Bottom line

The Tesla Model Y costs about $8,800 more to own than the Mazda CX-5 here today — but it pulls ahead on total cost to own if you drive more than 42,000 mi/yr (you're at 12,000) or gas tops $6.91/gal (now $3.10).

Gas total includes its depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and registration (edit them in “Comparison car ownership” above).

Home L2 charger payback

Upfront (hardware + install)$1,300
Annual saving vs public charging$996
Pays for itself in1.3 yr
How this is calculated

Annual electricity

(28 ÷ 100 × 12,000 mi) ÷ 0.88 = 3,818 kWh

Home charging cost

3,055 kWh × $0.12 = $379/yr

Public charging cost

764 kWh × $0.45 = $344/yr

Annual energy cost

$379 + $344 = $722/yr

Annual gas cost

(12,000 ÷ 26 mpg) × $3.10 = $1,431/yr

Fuel break-even gas price

$722 ÷ 462 gal = $1.57/gal

EV 5-year TCO

$26,094 + $3,612 + $12,950 + $3,250 + $250 − $0 = $46,156

Gas 5-year TCO

$13,200 + $7,154 + $11,265 + $5,500 + $250 = $37,369

5-year ownership difference

$46,156 − $37,369 = +$8,787 (EV pricier)

L2 payback

$1,300 ÷ (($0.45 − $0.12) × 3,055 kWh) = 1.3 yr

Estimates, not quotes. Figures use South Dakota averages and the assumptions above — your real costs depend on your utility plan, driving, insurer, and the incentives you actually qualify for. Verify with your utility, insurer, and state DMV before deciding.

5-year cost to own: Tesla Model Y vs Mazda CX-5

Over five years the Tesla Model Y costs about $8,800 more to own than the Mazda CX-5.

5-year cost Tesla Model Y Mazda CX-5
Depreciation (5 yr) $26,094 $13,200
Fuel / energy (5 yr) $3,612 $7,154
Insurance (5 yr) $12,950 $11,265
Maintenance (5 yr) $3,250 $5,500
Registration & fees (5 yr) $250 $250
Incentives − $0 $0
5-year total cost to own $46,156 $37,369

Efficiency: 28 kWh/100mi vs 26 mpg. Gas insurance is estimated at ~87% of the EV figure and gas registration assumes no EV road-use fee; depreciation and incentives are estimates. Edit any value in the calculator above.

When ownership costs cross over

Cumulative cost to own, year by year. The single 5-year figure hides when one car overtakes the other — useful if you don't keep a car a full five years.

How each car holds its value

Estimated resale value as a share of MSRP. The Tesla Model Y depreciates faster than the Mazda CX-5 — the single biggest reason for the gap above. See the methodology for the basis.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model Y in South Dakota?
About $722 per year (~$60/month), or roughly $0.06 per mile, at South Dakota's average home rate of $0.12/kWh — assuming 12,000 miles a year and 80% home charging.
Is a Model Y cheaper to drive than a CX-5 in South Dakota?
Yes. Charging the Model Y costs about $722 a year versus roughly $1,431 to fuel a CX-5, a saving of about $708 a year. The fuel break-even — where charging and fueling cost the same — is $1.57/gal. (That's separate from the total cost to own below.)
Is a Model Y cheaper to own than a CX-5 in South Dakota?
Over five years, not in South Dakota: about $46,200 to own the Model Y versus $37,400 for the CX-5 — roughly $8,800 more, driven by higher EV insurance and fees plus the expired federal credit. The EV still usually wins on fuel alone.
What is the 5-year cost to own a Tesla Model Y in South Dakota?
About $46,200 over five years (~$9,230/year), combining depreciation ($26,094), energy ($3,612), insurance ($12,950), maintenance ($3,250), and registration ($250), minus $0 in incentives. Adjust any assumption in the calculator above.
Are there EV incentives in South Dakota?
We show no state purchase incentive for South Dakota, and the federal clean-vehicle credit ended in late 2025. Programs change often — verify current state and utility offers before buying.
How accurate are these estimates?
Electricity and gas prices come from EIA data and are refreshed monthly; insurance, fees, and incentives are state-level estimates you can edit. Every formula is shown in the calculator. Treat the results as ballpark comparisons, not quotes, and confirm with your utility, insurer, and DMV.

Precision mode: use your exact utility rate

Real per-utility time-of-use plans are loaded for major utilities; South Dakota isn't covered yet. You can still model a time-of-use plan manually in the calculator's Precision panel above.

Tesla Model Y cost to own in other states