Compare Two Cars: 5-Year Cost
Sticker price is a trap. Compare two cars on their real 5-year cost once fuel, insurance and resale value are factored in.
Which of two cars is cheaper to own?
Compare both cars on five-year cost, not sticker price. Adding depreciation, fuel and insurance for each, this tool's defaults make the first car (a $32,000, 30 MPG model) cost about $32,900 over five years versus $37,500 for the second — so the first car works out cheaper by roughly $4,600 despite the difference in price.
Your numbers
First car is cheaper by
$4,600
over 5 years
First car — 5-year cost
$32,900
Second car — 5-year cost
$37,500
Insight — A cheaper sticker can lose to a thirstier engine or weaker resale within five years. Depreciation and fuel usually swing the result more than the purchase price gap you see on the lot.
What if Annual miles changes?
| Annual miles | First car is cheaper by |
|---|---|
| 8,000 mi | $4,033 |
| 12,000 mi · now | $4,600 |
| 16,000 mi | $5,167 |
| 20,000 mi | $5,733 |
| 25,000 mi | $6,442 |
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Know your benchmark here, then compare real quotes from several carriers — prices for the same driver vary a lot.
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For context: the cheaper sticker often loses on 5-year cost — resale strength and fuel economy regularly flip the result, which is exactly why comparing total cost (not just price) matters. Enter two real cars above to see it.
How this calculator works
This is a modeled estimate, not a quote. For each car the calculator adds three big variable costs over five years: depreciation (price minus its resale value), fuel (annual miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon × five years), and insurance (annual premium × five). The car with the lower five-year total is the one that costs less to own, even if it has the higher purchase price up front.
Formula
For each car: 5-year cost = depreciation (price − price × resale %) + fuel (miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon × 5) + insurance (annual premium × 5). The lower total wins.
Worked example
The first car — $32,000, 30 MPG, $1,700 insurance, 45% resale — costs $17,600 depreciation + $6,800 fuel + $8,500 insurance = $32,900. The second car — $38,000, 24 MPG, $2,000 insurance, 50% resale — costs $19,000 + $8,500 + $10,000 = $37,500. The first car comes out $4,600 lower over five years.
What affects your result
- →Each car's purchase price and resale percentage
- →The fuel-economy gap between them
- →The insurance premium difference
- →Annual miles driven
- →Local fuel price
What this estimate includes
- ✓Five years of depreciation for each car
- ✓Five years of fuel for each car
- ✓Five years of insurance for each car
- ✓The total-cost gap and a per-line breakdown
What it does not include
- ×Maintenance and repairs
- ×Financing interest
- ×Taxes, registration and dealer fees
- ×Anything beyond the two cars' three biggest variable costs
Good to know
Clear, practical answers about the two-car comparison calculator.
How do I compare the true cost of two cars?＋
Look past the sticker. Add up five years of depreciation (price minus resale value), fuel, and insurance for each car. The one with the lower total is genuinely cheaper to own — even if it cost more up front.
Why does resale value matter so much?＋
Resale value sets your depreciation, which is typically the single biggest cost of ownership. A car that holds 55% of its value after five years can be far cheaper to own than a rival that holds only 40%, even with a higher purchase price.
Should I include maintenance and taxes too?＋
This tool focuses on the three biggest variable costs — depreciation, fuel and insurance — so the comparison stays clean and apples-to-apples. For a full breakdown including maintenance and financing interest, use the True Cost of Ownership calculator.
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