Car Running Cost Calculator
What does your car really cost to drive? Compare petrol, diesel, CNG and electric side by side, in rupees per km, per month and over the years you keep it, servicing included. Then see whether a pricier CNG or EV variant ever pays back. Built for India, July 2026 prices. No sign-up.
What each fuel really costs to drive
The calculator above is the accurate one, because you can set your own mileage, prices and how far you drive. But if you just want a feel for the numbers, here is what a typical small-to-mid car costs at about 1,200 km a month, including regular servicing, on early July 2026 Delhi prices.
| Fuel | Cost per km | Per month | Over 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | ₹6.1 | ₹7,300 | ₹4.84 lakh |
| Diesel | ₹5.1 | ₹6,200 | ₹4.10 lakh |
| CNG | ₹3.7 | ₹4,400 | ₹2.93 lakh |
| Electric | ₹1.5 | ₹1,800 | ₹1.19 lakh |
Two things stand out. First, the gap is large: running electric instead of petrol saves you more than ₹5,000 every month here, over ₹3.6 lakh across five years. Second, these are running costs only. The cheaper-to-run cars, CNG and electric, usually cost more to buy in the first place, so the real question is whether the saving pays that back. The break-even panel in the tool answers exactly that.
Three things to check before you decide
- Match the numbers to your car. A big SUV drinks far more than a hatchback, and city driving hurts mileage. Edit the mileage and your local fuel price in the boxes for an honest answer.
- Count the buying premium, not just the running cost. A factory CNG car costs roughly ₹90,000 to ₹1.1 lakh more; an EV several lakh more. Use the break-even panel to see how long that takes to come back at your driving.
- For an EV, check road tax too. Many states waive or cut road tax on electric cars, which lowers the on-road price and shortens the pay-back. Get your state’s figure from the Road Tax Calculator.
Working out the full cost of buying? Pair this with the Car Loan EMI Calculator for your monthly payment, and if you are still shortlisting, the Find Your Car tool gives you three honest picks for your budget.
How to use these running-cost numbers
Two cars with the same sticker price can cost wildly different amounts to live with. The fuel you choose is the biggest reason. This tool turns that into plain rupees, so you can see the real gap per km, per month, and across the years you actually keep the car, not just the headline mileage.
Running cost is fuel plus upkeep, not fuel alone
Most calculators only divide the fuel price by mileage. That undersells diesel and CNG, which cost more to service, and it hides the biggest EV advantage, which is how little goes wrong. With the "servicing & upkeep" box ticked, this tool adds a typical yearly service bill to each fuel, so the comparison is honest. Untick it if you only want the fuel-versus-fuel picture.
The trap: cheaper to run often means costlier to buy
CNG and electric cars usually win on running cost, sometimes by half. But the CNG version of a car costs roughly ₹90,000 to ₹1.1 lakh more than the petrol one, and an EV can cost several lakh more. That extra money only comes back if you drive enough to save it in fuel. The "is the pricier version worth it?" panel does that sum for you: it shows how many months and kilometres it takes to break even. A rough rule for India: if you drive under about 1,000 km a month, factory CNG rarely pays back before you sell, and an EV needs both high running and cheap home charging to make sense on money alone.
Where EVs quietly save extra
The per-km figure above uses home charging, which is where an EV is cheapest, roughly ₹1 to ₹1.50 a km. Lean on public fast chargers and that can triple, so an EV suits you best if you can charge at home or work. Many states also waive or cut road tax on electric cars, which lowers the on-road price and shortens the pay-back. Check what your state charges with our Road Tax Calculator before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the running cost of a car in India per km?
As a rough guide in July 2026: petrol works out to about ₹5 to ₹7 a km, diesel ₹4 to ₹6, CNG ₹3 to ₹4, and an electric car charged at home ₹1 to ₹1.50. Add roughly ₹0.30 to ₹0.75 a km for servicing depending on the car. The exact number depends on your mileage and local fuel price, which is why the calculator lets you edit both.
Is CNG really cheaper than petrol?
Yes, to run. CNG usually costs about half as much per km as petrol because gas is cheaper and CNG cars return good mileage per kg. The catch is the higher purchase price of a factory CNG variant, around ₹90,000 to ₹1.1 lakh more, plus a smaller boot and a mild power drop. Use the break-even panel to see whether your monthly driving earns that extra money back.
Is an electric car cheaper to run than petrol in India?
On running cost, clearly yes: home charging plus far lower servicing can cut the per-km cost to a quarter of petrol, and several states waive road tax on EVs. But an EV costs more to buy, and the saving only pays off if you drive enough and can charge at home rather than relying on costly public fast chargers. The calculator shows both sides so you can judge for your own use.
Does this calculator include servicing and maintenance?
Yes, when the "servicing & upkeep" box is ticked it adds a typical yearly service cost to each fuel type. Diesel and CNG carry higher service bills, and electric the lowest. Untick the box to compare fuel cost only.
Are these the exact prices in my city?
No. The tool starts with approximate Delhi prices for early July 2026, and fuel rates change almost daily and vary by state. Type your local petrol, diesel, CNG or electricity rate into the boxes for an accurate answer. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
Prices, mileage and service costs vary by city, car and driving style. Treat these figures as a close estimate to compare options, not an exact bill, and confirm current fuel and electricity rates locally before you buy.