What America's best-selling cars really cost per month
By Mihir · Updated November 2026 · Numbers from the CarBudgetFit calculator
The real monthly cost of America's 59 best-selling vehicles: loan payment, insurance, fuel and upkeep added up, new and 3 years old. Click any model for the full breakdown.
From $774 to $2,098 a month, new
The Kia K4 is the cheapest best-seller to own new and the GMC Yukon the most expensive. Within each type, the gap between the cheapest and priciest model is often $100 to $300 a month, mostly from price and insurance.
Compact cars
| Model | New price | New, all-in | Used, all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla#11 in US sales | $27,600 | $800 | $721 |
| Honda Civic#12 in US sales | $29,100 | $834 | $749 |
| Hyundai Elantra#23 in US sales | $27,000 | $784 | $677 |
| Nissan Sentra#28 in US sales | $27,200 | $793 | $685 |
| Kia K4#29 in US sales | $26,400 | $774 | $669 |
Small crossovers
| Model | New price | New, all-in | Used, all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Trax#16 in US sales | $26,300 | $786 | $684 |
| Subaru Crosstrek#21 in US sales | $31,900 | $922 | $815 |
| Honda HR-V#32 in US sales | $31,500 | $921 | $828 |
| Ford Bronco Sport#35 in US sales | $37,900 | $1,075 | $916 |
| Chevrolet Trailblazer#43 in US sales | $28,100 | $829 | $717 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross#44 in US sales | $30,200 | $872 | $785 |
| Nissan Kicks#48 in US sales | $27,300 | $807 | $698 |
Midsize sedans
| Model | New price | New, all-in | Used, all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry#6 in US sales | $34,600 | $946 | $846 |
| Honda Accord#19 in US sales | $33,300 | $947 | $852 |
Compact SUVs
| Model | New price | New, all-in | Used, all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V#3 in US sales | $37,000 | $1,030 | $923 |
| Toyota RAV4#8 in US sales | $37,500 | $1,009 | $900 |
| Nissan Rogue#10 in US sales | $34,800 | $970 | $834 |
| Chevrolet Equinox#13 in US sales | $34,700 | $993 | $857 |
| Hyundai Tucson#15 in US sales | $35,100 | $994 | $856 |
| Subaru Forester#17 in US sales | $35,200 | $992 | $876 |
| Kia Sportage#18 in US sales | $33,900 | $966 | $833 |
| Jeep Wrangler#22 in US sales | $42,600 | $1,220 | $1,045 |
| Ford Bronco#27 in US sales | $47,900 | $1,350 | $1,151 |
| Subaru Outback#36 in US sales | $40,800 | $1,126 | $987 |
| Mazda CX-5#40 in US sales | $35,300 | $998 | $858 |
| Mazda CX-50#41 in US sales | $35,200 | $1,000 | $860 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan#49 in US sales | $36,200 | $1,023 | $880 |
| GMC Terrain#60 in US sales | $36,600 | $1,037 | $892 |
Electric cars and SUVs
| Model | New price | New, all-in | Used, all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y#5 in US sales | $46,600 | $1,197 | $845 |
| Tesla Model 3#53 in US sales | $43,300 | $1,121 | $793 |
3-row family SUVs
| Model | New price | New, all-in | Used, all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer#14 in US sales | $45,100 | $1,243 | $1,064 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee#20 in US sales | $45,800 | $1,264 | $1,082 |
| Chevrolet Traverse#25 in US sales | $47,900 | $1,325 | $1,132 |
| Kia Telluride#31 in US sales | $45,600 | $1,266 | $1,083 |
| Toyota Grand Highlander#33 in US sales | $49,100 | $1,334 | $1,191 |
| Toyota 4Runner#34 in US sales | $49,100 | $1,346 | $1,203 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe#37 in US sales | $41,000 | $1,144 | $983 |
| Hyundai Palisade#38 in US sales | $46,000 | $1,275 | $1,091 |
| Chrysler Pacifica#39 in US sales | $48,800 | $1,339 | $1,142 |
| Honda Pilot#42 in US sales | $49,300 | $1,357 | $1,212 |
| Nissan Pathfinder#46 in US sales | $46,600 | $1,283 | $1,097 |
| Toyota Sienna#47 in US sales | $48,100 | $1,268 | $1,129 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe#50 in US sales | $71,100 | $1,874 | $1,575 |
| Kia Sorento#51 in US sales | $38,000 | $1,070 | $923 |
| GMC Yukon#55 in US sales | $81,100 | $2,098 | $1,753 |
| Honda Odyssey#56 in US sales | $50,200 | $1,371 | $1,225 |
| Kia Carnival#58 in US sales | $43,600 | $1,220 | $1,049 |
| Dodge Durango#59 in US sales | $51,400 | $1,405 | $1,196 |
Luxury vehicles
Full-size pickups
| Model | New price | New, all-in | Used, all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150#1 in US sales | $44,900 | $1,254 | $1,115 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500#2 in US sales | $44,500 | $1,259 | $1,122 |
| Ram 1500#4 in US sales | $50,200 | $1,389 | $1,232 |
| GMC Sierra 1500#7 in US sales | $46,400 | $1,302 | $1,159 |
| Toyota Tacoma#9 in US sales | $38,400 | $1,116 | $1,045 |
| Ford Maverick#24 in US sales | $33,600 | $952 | $854 |
| Toyota Tundra#30 in US sales | $48,700 | $1,355 | $1,256 |
| Chevrolet Colorado#52 in US sales | $38,600 | $1,120 | $1,005 |
| Nissan Frontier#54 in US sales | $38,400 | $1,123 | $1,010 |
Assumes good credit (9.5% APR used, 6.9% new), a 5-year loan, $4,000 down, 6% sales tax plus $600 in fees, 12,000 miles a year, gas at $3.10 and full-coverage insurance at typical rates. Your numbers will differ; the calculator lets you change every one of these. Mid-level trims. Sales ranks are US sales January to September 2026.
Compare any of these against your own budget.
Open the calculator →Common questions
Which best-selling car is cheapest to own?
The Kia K4, at about $774 a month new with a mid-level trim, counting the loan, insurance, fuel and upkeep.
What is included in cost of ownership?
Here it means the monthly loan payment (with tax and fees rolled in), full-coverage insurance, fuel or charging for 12,000 miles a year, and routine maintenance and repairs. It does not include depreciation separately, since that shows up in the price you pay and the price you sell for.
Why is a used car not always much cheaper per month?
Used-car loans have higher interest rates and used cars cost more to maintain. For models that hold their value, like most Toyotas and Hondas, a 3-year-old one saves less than you might expect.
Guides by price, salary and payment
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