Ford F-150 Lightning Pro vs Ford F-150 XLT (gas): 5-year cost to own in the U.S.
As of August 6, 2026, over 5 years (U.S. average, 12,000 mi/yr), the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) stays the cheaper car to own — about $53,467 vs $67,218 for the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro, a $13,751 difference over 5 years. The expired federal $7,500 EV credit is not applied to either total.
Cheaper to own over 5 yearsFord F-150 XLT (gas) · $53,467 total · $13,751 less than the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro
Ford F-150 Lightning Pro vs Ford F-150 XLT (gas) — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · Ford F-150 Lightning Pro | Gas · Ford F-150 XLT |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $31,225 (46%) | $16,800 (31%) |
| Charging / fuel | $7,845 (12%) | $10,492 (20%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$941) | — |
| Maintenance | $3,660 (5%) | $6,840 (13%) |
| Insurance | $13,750 (20%) | $11,000 (21%) |
| Financing interest | $9,738 (14%) | $7,335 (14%) |
| Registration & fees | $1,000 (1%) | $1,000 (2%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $67,218 | $53,467 |
The charging-loss row is the ~10–15% of electricity lost to AC charging that you pay for but never reaches the battery — we include it; most calculators don't.
When does the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro win?
Even at 30,000+ mi/yr or a 15-year hold, the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) stays cheaper here — its lower price and slower depreciation dominate. The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro is the pick mainly for reasons beyond 5-year cost (performance, emissions, HOV access, home-charging convenience).
No sugar-coating it — the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) is decisively cheaper: $13,751 over 5 years, about 26% of its total. At default assumptions this one isn't close.
What decides the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro vs Ford F-150 XLT (gas) verdict
One line outweighs everything else here: depreciation. It costs $31,225 on the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro against $16,800 on the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) — a $14,425 swing to the Ford F-150 XLT (gas), bigger than the $13,751 that separates the two 5-year totals. On the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro, depreciation alone is 46% of its $67,218 total; on the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) it is 31% of $53,467.
- Maintenance: Ford F-150 Lightning Pro $3,660, Ford F-150 XLT (gas) $6,840 — $3,180 the other way, to the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro.
- Insurance: Ford F-150 Lightning Pro $13,750, Ford F-150 XLT (gas) $11,000 — $2,750 more in the Ford F-150 XLT (gas)'s favor.
- Energy: $7,845 of charging for the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro vs $10,492 of gas for the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) — $2,647 the other way, to the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro.
The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro's best answer is maintenance — $3,180 back the other way — which covers 23% of the Ford F-150 XLT (gas)'s $13,751 lead. The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro starts $12,780 behind the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) at the dealer, and ownership widens it — the 5-year gap grows to $13,751. The Ford F-150 XLT (gas) is ahead by $5,484 after the first year and more than doubles that lead — $13,751 by year 5.
Ford F-150 Lightning Pro vs Ford F-150 XLT (gas), side by side
Ford F-150 Lightning Pro
- 5-yr total cost
- $67,218
- Cost / month
- $1,120
- Cost / mile
- $1.12
- MSRP
- $54,780
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 48 kWh/100mi
Ford F-150 XLT (gas)
- 5-yr total cost
- $53,467
- Cost / month
- $891
- Cost / mile
- $0.89
- MSRP
- $42,000
- Powertrain
- Gas
- Efficiency
- 22 mpg
- Electricity (US avg)
- 18.4¢/kWh EIA
- Gas price (US avg)
- $3.85/gal AAA
Full cost breakdowns
Ford F-150 Lightning Pro vs Ford F-150 XLT (gas) by state
No state's electricity or gas prices flip this verdict at default assumptions — the Ford F-150 XLT (gas) is the cheaper car in all 51 states we track.