Ranked: The Best Countries To Own A Tesla Model 3

Introduction /  Scoring Overview

According to Tesla’s website, the Model 3 is officially sold in over 36 countries.

But in which country do you get the best all-round experience when buying this number one best-selling electric car? 

At Car Lease Fetcher, we wanted to know which country, £ for £, kwh for kwh, is the best place to own a Tesla Model 3.

We determined three important categories a customer would consider when buying a Tesla: Affordability, Running Costs, and Practicality. 

Within these categories we analysed 6 data points directly linked to the buying decisions of a customer looking to purchase a Tesla Model 3:

Affordability

  • Comparing the price of the Tesla Model 3 in each country.
  • How the price of a Tesla Model 3 compares to the price of an average car. 
  • How the price of a Model 3 compares to the average yearly salary of a country.

Running Costs

  • The price of 100 miles in a Tesla Model 3 compared to 100 miles in an equivalent petrol car.

Practicality

  • The number of Tesla Superchargers per kilometre of road.
  • The ratio of electric car charging points to petrol stations.

For each data point, we collected the results for the 36 countries listed on the official Tesla Website. We then converted the results into a linear scale from 1-10 and ranked them accordingly. 10 is the best score and 1 is the lowest. The table below shows the final positions from best (1st) to worst (36th).

Let’s see how each Model 3-selling country stacks up - which is the best country to own a Tesla Model 3?

The Results

A Review of the Top 10 Countries To Own a Tesla Model 3

Norway

Norway leads the way with EV adoption, so it’s no surprise that it’s the best place to own a Tesla Model 3. 

The Model 3 is 26% cheaper than the average Norwegian car and its price tag is 49% of the average Norwegian’s salary, making it highly affordable for Norwegian drivers. 

1 in 2 electric car sales in Norway is for a Model 3, so Tesla have tried to cater to this demand with 72 Superchargers across the country - an average 1 Supercharger per 1,318km of road. All of this combined gives Norway the top spot.

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is 3% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 26% cheaper than the average car in Norway.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 49% of the average salary in Norway.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 507% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 72 Tesla Superchargers in Norway: a ratio of 1 per 1,318 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 101 charging points.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong residents have had their range anxiety put at bay. They have the best ratio of Tesla Superchargers per km (1 per 70km!) and 186 charging points per 10 petrol stations. Plus it’s 409% cheaper to drive 100 miles than in a petrol equivalent car (2nd cheapest of all countries selling a Model 3). 

The only downsides to owning a Model 3 in Hong Kong is that it’s 82% more expensive to buy than the average car.

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is 29% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 82% more expensive than the average car in Hong Kong.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 101% of the average salary in Hong Kong.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 409% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 30 Tesla Superchargers in Hong Kong: a ratio of 1 per 70 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 186 charging points.

Switzerland

Switzerland racks up points in the affordability category. A Model 3 is only 8% more expensive than the average car and costs 51% of the average salary. 

The Swiss have access to 22 Tesla Superchargers: a ratio of 1 per 3,252 kilometres. Whilst not very practical for the average driver, it is actually much higher than many other Model 3-selling countries.

Where Switzerland drops points is it’s charging network and electricity costs. They have a middle-of-the-road performance with 23 chargers for every 10 petrol stations and they come in 19th position for electricity vs petrol costs, saving "only" 125% per 100 miles in a Model 3.

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is 8% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 7% cheaper than the average car in Switzerland.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 51% of the average salary in Switzerland.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 125% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 22 Tesla Superchargers in Switzerland: a ratio of 1 per 3,252 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 23 charging points.

Iceland

The Model 3 costs 65% of the average salary in Iceland, making it highly affordable for Icelandic drivers. It’s also 6% cheaper than the average car (1 of only 3 countries where it is cheaper).

Iceland also falls short when it comes to its charging network. They have 1 Tesla Supercharger per 4,299km and only 12 chargers for every 10 petrol stations. When comparing this to Norway's 101 chargers to every 10 petrol stations, we can see traditional ICE cars are still King in Iceland.

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is 18% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 6% cheaper than the average car in Iceland.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 65% of the average salary in Iceland.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 307% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 3 Tesla Superchargers in Iceland: a ratio of 1 per 4,299 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 12 charging points.

United States

The Model 3 is the cheapest in its motherland, the USA. The USA ranks number 1 in the affordability category overall - a Model 3 is 9% cheaper than the average US car and costs a reasonable 61% of the average yearly salary.

Where the US drops points is in its charging network, with only 6 chargers per 10 petrol stations (28th position). The US has the most Tesla Superchargers but the ratio remains poor, with 1 per 6,721 km. With an improved charging network, they could climb to the top of this list.

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is the cheapest to buy in the USA.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 9% more expensive than the average car in the United States.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 61% of the average salary in United States.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 79% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 980 Tesla Superchargers in the United States: a ratio of 1 per 6,721 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 6 charging points.

Netherlands

The Netherlands scores highly for ownership practicality - they have a whopping 160 chargers for every 10 petrol stations. However, they have a poor ratio of 1 Tesla Supercharger for every 4,487km.

A Model 3 costs 109% of the average salary and is 54% more expensive than the average car.

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is 45% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 54% more expensive than the average car in the Netherlands.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 109% of the average salary in Netherlands.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 241% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 31 Tesla Superchargers in Netherlands: a ratio of 1 per 4,487 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 160 charging points.

Canada

Canada makes the top 10 due to their affordability. The Model 3 is only 7% more expensive than the cheapest country, the USA. They score well when comparing the Model 3 price against the average price of a car in Canada - the Model 3 is just under a third more expensive.

Where Canada didn't do so well was their charging network, with only 7 chargers per 10 petrol stations. In this area, they were 26th out of 36 on our list. 

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is 7% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 29% more expensive than the average car in Canada.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 92% of the average salary in Canada.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 226% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 108 Tesla Superchargers in Canada: a ratio of 1 per 9,650 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 7 charging points.

South Korea

Due to strong sales, Tesla has installed 33 Tesla Superchargers in South Korea: a ratio of 1 per 3,043 kilometres. There are 52 general EV chargers per 10 petrol stations. The strength of this network is middle-of-the-road for the countries examined.

South Korea loses points in the affordability category due to it costing a chunky 143% of the average salary and is 90% more expensive than the average new car in South Korea.

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is 21% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 90% more expensive than the average car in South Korea.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 143% of the average salary in South Korea.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 327% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 33 Tesla Superchargers in South Korea: a ratio of 1 per 3,043 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 52 charging points.

China

China bags a place in the top 10 rightly so after coming in as the 4th cheapest place to buy the Model 3, the 4th cheapest for electric charging costs vs petrol, and the 5th best ratio of charging points to petrol stations.

Where it lags behind is the cost of the Model 3 in relation to the average salary of a Chinese citizen - it comes almost dead last in this category, with a Model 3 costing almost 4 years worth of wages, making it very inacccessible!

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is 3% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 82% more expensive than the average car in China.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 396% of the average salary in China.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 308% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 700 Tesla Superchargers in China: a ratio of 1 per 7,086 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 46 charging points.

UAE

Rounding off the list at number 10 is a surprise entry from the United Arab Emirates. They come almost second in class for their Supercharging network, though they still lag a long way behind number 1, Hong Kong.

The outright cost of a Model 3 in the UAE is pretty affordable comparatively, coming in 7th spot at just over a year's average salary. It is middle of the road in all other categories.

Affordability

  • Price: The Model 3 is 14% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 64% more expensive than the average car in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 105% of the average salary in the United Arab Emirates.

Running Costs

  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 128% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.

Practicality

  • SuperChargers: There are 4 Tesla Superchargers in the United Arab Emirates: a ratio of 1 per 1,020 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 18 charging points.

Noticeable Omissions From The Top 10

16th - United Kingdom

The UK fails to make the top 10 due to high affordability costs. The price of the Model 3 is 68% more expensive than in the USA where it is cheapest and costs 134% of the average salary in the United Kingdom. 

It gets worse when you compare the price of a Model 3 with the average new car in the UK. The Model 3 is 50% more expensive. All this adds up to a mediocre score.

The Results
  • Price: The Model 3 is 41% more expensive than in the USA where it is cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 51% more expensive than the average car in United Kingdom.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 134% of the average salary in United Kingdom.
  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 106% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.
  • SuperChargers: There are 71 Tesla Superchargers in the United Kingdom: a ratio of 1 per 5,555 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 39 charging points.

21st - Denmark

In Denmark, Tesla is very popular - so much so that for every 4 electric cars sold in Denmark, 1 will be a Tesla Model 3. 

Tesla might be selling like hotcakes but Denmark ranks low overall at 21st out of 36 countries. This is down to its below-average score in the practicality category. For every 10 petrol stations, there are only 15 charging points. 

Denmark also performs poorly when reviewing running costs as the cost of charging is ranked 32nd out of 36. 

The Results
  • Price: The Model 3 is 60% more expensive than in the USA where it is the cheapest.
  • Average Car Cost: The Model 3 is 35% more expensive than the average car in Denmark.
  • Salary: The Model 3 costs 100% of the average salary in Denmark.
  • Petrol vs Elec: 100 miles in a Model 3 is 76% cheaper than in a 40mpg petrol equivalent car.
  • SuperChargers: There are 11 Tesla Superchargers in Denmark: a ratio of 1 per 6,778 kilometres.
  • Points Vs Stations: For every 10 petrol stations, there are at least 15 charging points.

Conclusion

So, what makes a country a great place to own a Tesla Model 3?

There isn’t one factor alone that makes the experience of owning a Model 3 great. If the price tag of a Model 3 compared to the average cost of a car and the average salary is reasonable, then a country will rank well for affordability.

Once someone gets past any initial affordability obstacles, ongoing running costs come into play. One major allure of electric cars is the significant savings of charging vs paying for petrol and diesel. The cheaper a country’s electricity costs, the higher the percentage of savings, and the more attractive it is to own a Model 3!

Range anxiety is a worry for prospective EV drivers. A decent ratio of Tesla Superchargers is important for speedy charging, but if the general charging network is poor, the Model 3 ownership experience will be poorer. Where petrol stations outnumber or almost outnumber charging points, owning a Model 3 isn’t so great.

It’s only by accounting for all of these factors that we can really judge which countries are the best to own a Model 3 - Norway, Hong Kong, and Switzerland have smashed it.

Methodology

For each data point, we collected the results for the 36 countries. We then converted the results into a linear scale from 1-10 and ranked them accordingly. 10 is the best score and 1 the lowest.
To view all collected data visit this URL. All sources listed below.

Pricing

The pricing was collected from the official Tesla website. Data correct as of 23/06/2021.

Average Car Cost

Average car costs were taken from statista.com: “Average price (including tax) of passenger cars in the EU in 2015 and 2019, by country”.

Salary

The average yearly data was collected from OECD and worlddata.info. Data correct as of 06/2021

Petrol vs Electricity

Petrol and electricity costs were collected from globalpetrolprices.com. Data correct as of the 23/06/2021.

  • We estimated the cost to charge an electric vehicle in each country by taking the average cost of electricity per kWh and multiplying this by 100, based on the maximum battery capacity of a Tesla Model 3 (100 kWh).
  • We then divided this figure by 263 (the range of the Model 3 in miles) to estimate the cost per mile, before multiplying this by 10 and 100 to estimate the costs per 10 and 100 miles.
  • We multiplied the cost of petrol per litre by 4.54609 to work out the cost per gallon. We then divided this number by 40 to represent 40MPG. We then multiplied this number by 100. 

Super Chargers

Data on Tesla Superchargers was collected from the official Tesla website. Data correct as of 23/06/2021.

Points Vs Stations

Gas Station data was collected from statista.com: “Number of gas stations in selected European countries at the end of 2019”.

Charging point data was collected from www.eafo.eu.

Data for total distance of road per country was taken from the CIA Roads Report.

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