What a Ford Explorer really costs per month
By Mihir · Updated November 2026 · Numbers from the CarBudgetFit calculator
The sticker price is the start. Here is what a Ford Explorer costs each month once you add the loan, insurance, gas and upkeep, new or 3 years old.
A new Ford Explorer costs about $1,243 a month to own; a 3-year-old one about $1,064
The Ford Explorer is the #14 best-selling vehicle in the US this year, with 189,210 sold from January to September. At about 24 mpg combined, gas comes to around $129 a month at 12,000 miles a year. A 3-year-old Explorer is estimated at about 74% of its new price, saving roughly $11,700 up front. Of the 18 3-row family SUVs we track, it is the 4th cheapest to own new; the Kia Sorento costs about $173 a month less.
Monthly cost breakdown, new vs used
| New | Used, 3 yrs old | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (mid-level trim) | $45,100 | $33,400 |
| Loan payment | $877 | $672 |
| Insurance | $171 | $158 |
| Gas | $129 | $129 |
| Maintenance and repairs | $65 | $105 |
| All-in per month | $1,243 | $1,064 |
| Interest over the loan | $8,226 | $8,325 |
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.
What salary do you need for a Ford Explorer?
Keeping all car costs under 20% of take-home pay, a new Explorer needs a salary of roughly $99,000 and a 3-year-old one roughly $82,000. For the more comfortable 15% target, it's about $136,000 for new and $114,000 for used.
Estimated for a single filer after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and about 3.5% state tax.
By trim level
Going from the base trim to the top trim adds about $256 a month, mostly in the loan payment.
| Trim | New price | All-in / month |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $40,300 | $1,133 |
| Mid-level | $45,100 | $1,243 |
| Top | $51,500 | $1,389 |
Base is the published starting price. Mid-level and top are estimated at about 12% and 28% more.
How your credit changes the cost
On a new Explorer, the difference between excellent and rebuilding credit is about $179 a month, or $10,740 over a 5-year loan.
| Credit | New | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent5.2% / 7% APR | $1,208 | $1,026 |
| Good6.9% / 9.5% APR | $1,243 | $1,064 |
| Fair9.8% / 13.8% APR | $1,305 | $1,133 |
| Rebuilding13.5% / 18.5% APR | $1,387 | $1,213 |
Loan length, new Ford Explorer
A longer loan lowers the payment but raises the interest. A 6-year loan costs about $3,414 more in interest than a 4-year loan.
| Loan length | Payment | All-in | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | $1,369 | $1,735 | $4,882 |
| 4 years | $1,061 | $1,427 | $6,536 |
| 5 years | $877 | $1,243 | $8,226 |
| 6 years | $755 | $1,121 | $9,950 |
Compared with other 3-row family SUVs
Mid-level trims, all-in monthly cost. Click any model for its full breakdown, or see all 59 models.
| Model | New, all-in | Used, all-in |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento | $1,070 | $923 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | $1,144 | $983 |
| Kia Carnival | $1,220 | $1,049 |
| Ford Explorer this page | $1,243 | $1,064 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | $1,264 | $1,082 |
| Kia Telluride | $1,266 | $1,083 |
| Toyota Sienna | $1,268 | $1,129 |
| Hyundai Palisade | $1,275 | $1,091 |
More 3-row family SUVs: Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Traverse, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, GMC Yukon, Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Grand Highlander.
Reviews
What reviewers and owners say about the Ford Explorer
Brand reliability from Consumer Reports' predicted reliability survey, published December 2025. Links open each site's latest coverage.
Safety
How safe is the Ford Explorer?
IIHS awards for 2026 from IIHS releases through October 22, 2026. NHTSA is the federal safety agency; IIHS is funded by insurers and runs tougher tests. Always check a used car's VIN for open recalls.
Put in your own down payment, credit and insurance for the Ford Explorer.
Open the calculator →Common questions
How much does a Ford Explorer cost per month?
About $1,243 a month new and $1,064 for a 3-year-old one, counting the loan payment, insurance, gas and maintenance. That assumes a mid-level trim, $4,000 down, a 5-year loan and good credit. The loan payment alone is about $877 new.
What salary do you need to afford a Ford Explorer?
Roughly $99,000 a year for a new one and $82,000 for a 3-year-old one, if you keep all car costs under 20% of take-home pay.
Is it cheaper to buy a used Ford Explorer?
A 3-year-old Explorer costs about $179 a month less to own than a new one, mainly from a lower price. Used-car loans carry higher interest (9.5% vs 6.9% with good credit) and upkeep is higher, which eats into the savings.
Guides by price, salary and payment
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