EV vs petrol cost in Singapore (2026) — the true 5-year total

Q: Which EV is cheapest to own in Singapore?

As of July 2026, the BYD Atto 2 Premium — about S$123,408 over 5 years all-in: depreciation, charging (including losses), insurance, maintenance, road tax and financing.

Q: What do electricity and petrol cost in Singapore right now?

Our totals use 34.78c/kWh for home electricity (SP Group) and S$3.42/L for petrol (motorist.sg), as of July 1, 2026.

As of July 2026: of the 26 models we track in Singapore, the cheapest to own over 5 years is the BYD Atto 2 Premium at S$123,408 — an electric car. That makes electric the outright winner in this market — though we still say it plainly wherever a petrol or hybrid model wins.

What a car really costs to own in Singapore — where COE and ARF, not fuel, dominate. Every figure folds in depreciation (mostly the price with COE minus the unused COE + PARF you recover), charging at 34.78c/kWh or petrol at S$3.42/L, maintenance, insurance, road tax and financing — sourced and dated. The EV usually wins on running cost while COE dwarfs both; each page says which car is cheaper over 5 years, and why.

Live estimate — change the vehicles, COE and inputs belowOver 5 years, the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range (EV) is the cheapest at S$126,567 — about S$17,065 less than the Tesla Model 3 RWD (S$2,109/mo, S$1.45/km).

Lowest cost Electric

BYD Atto 3 Extended Range

S$126,567 / 5 yr

S$2,109/moS$1.45/km

Lowest 5-yr cost

Electric

Tesla Model 3 RWD

S$143,632 / 5 yr

S$2,394/moS$1.64/km

+S$17,065 more than the BYD Atto 3 Extended (13%)

Hybrid

Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid

S$149,099 / 5 yr

S$2,485/moS$1.70/km

+S$22,532 more than the BYD Atto 3 Extended (18%)

Cumulative cost over time

Total spend by each year — price with COE, depreciation, charging or petrol, insurance, road tax and financing combined. Where two lines cross is your payback point.

Tesla Model 3 RWDToyota Corolla Altis HybridBYD Atto 3 Extended

Tesla Model 3 RWD never beats BYD Atto 3 Extended within 5 yrs · Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid never beats BYD Atto 3 Extended within 5 yrs

Vehicles to compare

Vehicle 1

Vehicle 2

Vehicle 3

COE — the biggest line, auction-set biweekly

COE · Cat A S$ COE · Cat B S$ Annual distance km How long you'll keep it

For models with a published S$/yr depreciation figure (most here), changing COE mainly moves financing interest — the depreciation line stays the published figure, and de-registration recovers your unused COE + PARF. So the headline moves less than you might expect; that's honest, and it matches the static pages.

Financing (Singapore hire-purchase)

Loan APR % Loan term Down payment S$

Using COE S$124,790 (Cat A) / S$126,236 (Cat B), electricity 34.78c/kWh (SP Group), petrol S$3.42/L (motorist.sg). COE is auction-set biweekly — update it before you commit. The EV EEAI rebate is baked in for 2026 and sunsets 31 Dec 2026.

Where the money goes (full breakdown)

5-year total cost of ownership by component, by vehicle (SGD). Estimates; sources dated in the methodology.
Cost component	Electric · Tesla Model 3 RWD	Hybrid · Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid	Electric · BYD Atto 3 Extended
Depreciation (estimated)	S$104,000 (72%)	S$102,000 (68%)	S$87,000 (69%)
Charging / fuel	S$4,430 (3%)	S$13,167 (9%)	S$5,410 (4%)
↳ of which charging loss	10% (~S$443)	—	10% (~S$541)
Maintenance	S$3,500 (2%)	S$4,813 (3%)	S$3,500 (3%)
Insurance	S$10,000 (7%)	S$8,500 (6%)	S$10,000 (8%)
Financing interest	S$13,901 (10%)	S$15,744 (11%)	S$13,149 (10%)
Registration & fees	S$7,801 (5%)	S$4,876 (3%)	S$7,508 (6%)
Total cost of ownership	S$143,632	S$149,099	S$126,567

Where the money really goes — COE + ARF dwarf the fuel

The registered price with COE for the Tesla Model 3 RWD is S$179,999; COE + ARF alone are S$144,791 of it — many multiples of the electricity or petrol you'll ever buy.

COE (quota licence): S$124,790biweekly auction · dominates the price
ARF (net of VES / EEAI): S$20,001gross S$50,001 − rebates
OMV (open-market value): S$41,053declared import value
Excise (20%) + GST (9%): S$12,645on OMV
Registration fee: S$350LTA flat
Dealer / direct-sales adj.: S$-18,839sold below current-COE cost
Registered price (with COE): S$179,999to put it on the road
Recovered at de-registration (yr 5): S$75,999unused COE S$62,395 + PARF S$6,000 + residual S$7,604

Singapore reference numbers

Electricity (SG): 34.78c/kWhSP Group · 2026-07-01
Petrol 95 (SG): S$3.42/litremotorist.sg
COE (Cat A / B, assumed): S$124,790 / S$126,236LTA · biweekly
ARF: OMV-progressive, 100%→320%IRAS/LTA
VES rebate (BEV, Band A): S$22,500 off ARFNEA/LTA
EEAI (BEV, 2026 only): 45% ARF, cap S$7,500 — sunsets 31 Dec 2026LTA
Charging loss (modeled): 10%EPA / SAE J1634
Annual km (assumed): 17,500LTA average

COE is set by a biweekly auction and swings thousands of dollars — every figure here uses the S$124,790 (Cat A) / S$126,236 (Cat B) COE assumption. Confirm the current COE before you commit; it is the single biggest line in the price. Source: LTA registration-cost sheet, 2026-07-01.

EV Early Adoption Incentive: the EEAI (45% off ARF, capped S$7,500) is baked into the EV figures for 2026 registrations — and it sunsets 31 Dec 2026. Register a BEV from 2027 and it costs more. Source: LTA.

Car prices vs. true 5-year cost to own in Singapore (incl. COE + ARF)

The price with COE is only the start — de-registration returns your unused COE + PARF, so the true 5-year cost to own can rank very differently. Sort by any column, or filter by powertrain. A petrol or hybrid can be the cheapest to own; we say so plainly.

Price with COE vs. the honest 5-year cost to own, every model — at Singapore rates (17,500 km/yr, all-in incl. COE + ARF). Tap a column to sort, or filter by type. Honest: a petrol or hybrid can be cheapest to own.
	Type
BYD Atto 2 Premium	Electric	S$166,888	S$123,408	S$2,057
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Standard	Petrol	S$144,888	S$126,258	S$2,104
BYD Atto 3 Extended Range	Electric	S$171,888	S$126,567	S$2,109
Hyundai Avante 1.6 GDI HEV S	Hybrid	S$202,999	S$128,066	S$2,134
Hyundai Avante 1.6 GDI HEV SR	Hybrid	S$208,999	S$128,622	S$2,144
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Elegance	Petrol	S$151,888	S$129,406	S$2,157
MG4 Urban EV	Electric	S$191,888	S$136,722	S$2,279
BYD M6 7-Seater Extended Range	Electric	S$200,388	S$137,810	S$2,297
Tesla Model 3 RWD	Electric	S$179,999	S$143,632	S$2,394
Hyundai Ioniq 5 SR Prestige	Electric	S$189,800	S$145,169	S$2,419
BYD Seal Dynamic	Electric	S$273,388	S$148,271	S$2,471
Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid	Hybrid	S$199,888	S$149,099	S$2,485
Kia EV5 Earth Long Range	Electric	S$261,999	S$153,264	S$2,554
Volvo EX30 Plus (Single Motor)	Electric	S$220,000	S$154,962	S$2,583
BYD Sealion 7 Dynamic	Electric	S$277,888	S$155,209	S$2,587
Tesla Model Y RWD	Electric	S$201,888	S$158,269	S$2,638
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2.0 Premium	Hybrid	S$235,888	S$169,741	S$2,829
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2.5 Premium	Hybrid	S$248,888	S$175,139	S$2,919
Honda CR-V 1.5 VTEC Turbo (7-Seater)	Petrol	S$258,999	S$175,736	S$2,929
BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport	Electric	S$365,888	S$187,441	S$3,124
Toyota Camry Hybrid 2.5 Elegance	Hybrid	S$246,888	S$195,591	S$3,260
Honda Civic e:HEV	Hybrid	S$237,999	S$196,676	S$3,278
BMW iX1 eDrive20 xLine	Electric	S$305,888	S$198,448	S$3,307
Toyota Alphard Hybrid 2.5 Elegance	Hybrid	S$427,888	S$223,960	S$3,733
BMW i5 eDrive40	Electric	S$444,888	S$230,754	S$3,846
Lexus RX 350h Executive	Hybrid	S$456,800	S$279,434	S$4,657

What your car is worth at deregistration (PARF + COE rebate)

Singapore is the one market with an official answer to “what will my car be worth when I scrap or export it?” — the PARF rebate (a capped % of the ARF you paid) plus the unused-COE rebate. See the verified LTA schedule and the per-model rebate for a 2026-registered car. Your car's deregistration value in Singapore →

Singapore head-to-head: EV vs petrol/hybrid

Tesla Model 3 RWDvsToyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Standard Tesla Model 3 RWDvsToyota Corolla Altis Hybrid BYD Atto 2 PremiumvsHyundai Avante 1.6 GDI HEV S BYD Atto 3 Extended RangevsHonda Civic e:HEV Tesla Model 3 RWDvsHonda Civic e:HEV BMW i4 eDrive35 M SportvsHonda Civic e:HEV BYD Atto 2 PremiumvsToyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Standard BYD Atto 3 Extended RangevsHyundai Avante 1.6 GDI HEV SR Tesla Model Y RWDvsToyota Corolla Altis Hybrid BYD Seal DynamicvsHonda Civic e:HEV Hyundai Ioniq 5 SR PrestigevsHonda Civic e:HEV BYD Sealion 7 DynamicvsToyota Corolla Altis Hybrid BYD Seal DynamicvsToyota Camry Hybrid 2.5 Elegance Tesla Model 3 RWDvsToyota Camry Hybrid 2.5 Elegance Tesla Model Y RWDvsToyota RAV4 Hybrid 2.5 Premium BYD Sealion 7 DynamicvsToyota RAV4 Hybrid 2.5 Premium Tesla Model Y RWDvsHonda CR-V 1.5 VTEC Turbo (7-Seater)BYD Sealion 7 DynamicvsHonda CR-V 1.5 VTEC Turbo (7-Seater)Kia EV5 Earth Long RangevsToyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2.0 Premium Volvo EX30 Plus (Single Motor)vsToyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2.0 Premium Kia EV5 Earth Long RangevsToyota RAV4 Hybrid 2.5 Premium Volvo EX30 Plus (Single Motor)vsHonda CR-V 1.5 VTEC Turbo (7-Seater)BMW i5 eDrive40vsLexus RX 350h Executive Tesla Model Y RWDvsToyota Alphard Hybrid 2.5 Elegance

Singapore cost by model

FAQ

Is an electric car cheaper to own than a petrol car in Singapore?

Often, yes — as of July 2026 the cheapest model we track in Singapore is electric: the BYD Atto 2 Premium at S$123,408 over 5 years, all-in. But the verdict depends on the model and your mileage — some EVs still cost more once depreciation and insurance are counted, and each comparison page states plainly when the petrol or hybrid car wins.

Which EV is cheapest to own in Singapore?

As of July 2026, the BYD Atto 2 Premium — about S$123,408 over 5 years all-in: depreciation, charging (including losses), insurance, maintenance, road tax and financing.

What do electricity and petrol cost in Singapore right now?

Our totals use 34.78c/kWh for home electricity (SP Group) and S$3.42/L for petrol (motorist.sg), as of July 1, 2026.

What does the 5-year total include?

In Singapore the total is dominated by the registered price with COE — the COE quota licence plus ARF (net of VES/EEAI rebates) — minus what you recover at deregistration (unused COE + the PARF rebate), plus charging or petrol (including the ~10% AC charging loss), insurance, maintenance, road tax and financing. Every source is dated and the regulatory stack is cross-validated to LTA registration-cost sheets; COE itself is auction-set biweekly, so treat it as a dated assumption.

Estimates for planning, not financial advice. The regulatory stack (COE, ARF, VES, EEAI, PARF, road tax) is cross-validated to LTA registration-cost sheets; COE is auction-set and volatile — treat it as a dated assumption. How we calculate →