What a Kia Sportage really costs per month
By Mihir · Updated November 2026 · Numbers from the CarBudgetFit calculator
The sticker price is the start. Here is what a Kia Sportage costs each month once you add the loan, insurance, gas and upkeep, new or 3 years old.
A new Kia Sportage costs about $966 a month to own; a 3-year-old one about $833
The Kia Sportage is the #18 best-selling vehicle in the US this year, with 145,746 sold from January to September. At about 28 mpg combined, gas comes to around $111 a month at 12,000 miles a year. A 3-year-old Sportage is estimated at about 74% of its new price, saving roughly $8,800 up front. Of the 14 compact SUVs we track, it is the cheapest to own new.
Monthly cost breakdown, new vs used
| New | Used, 3 yrs old | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (mid-level trim) | $33,900 | $25,100 |
| Loan payment | $643 | $487 |
| Insurance | $157 | $145 |
| Gas | $111 | $111 |
| Maintenance and repairs | $55 | $90 |
| All-in per month | $966 | $833 |
| Interest over the loan | $6,027 | $6,036 |
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 Kia Sportage?
Keeping all car costs under 20% of take-home pay, a new Sportage needs a salary of roughly $74,000 and a 3-year-old one roughly $62,000. For the more comfortable 15% target, it's about $102,000 for new and $87,000 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 $197 a month, mostly in the loan payment.
| Trim | New price | All-in / month |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $30,300 | $882 |
| Mid-level | $33,900 | $966 |
| Top | $38,800 | $1,079 |
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 Sportage, the difference between excellent and rebuilding credit is about $132 a month, or $7,920 over a 5-year loan.
| Credit | New | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent5.2% / 7% APR | $940 | $805 |
| Good6.9% / 9.5% APR | $966 | $833 |
| Fair9.8% / 13.8% APR | $1,011 | $883 |
| Rebuilding13.5% / 18.5% APR | $1,072 | $941 |
Loan length, new Kia Sportage
A longer loan lowers the payment but raises the interest. A 6-year loan costs about $2,501 more in interest than a 4-year loan.
| Loan length | Payment | All-in | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | $1,003 | $1,326 | $3,576 |
| 4 years | $778 | $1,101 | $4,789 |
| 5 years | $643 | $966 | $6,027 |
| 6 years | $553 | $876 | $7,290 |
Compared with other compact 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 Sportage this page | $966 | $833 |
| Nissan Rogue | $970 | $834 |
| Subaru Forester | $992 | $876 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | $993 | $857 |
| Hyundai Tucson | $994 | $856 |
| Mazda CX-5 | $998 | $858 |
| Mazda CX-50 | $1,000 | $860 |
| Toyota RAV4 | $1,009 | $900 |
More compact SUVs: Ford Bronco, GMC Terrain, Honda CR-V, Jeep Wrangler, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Tiguan.
Reviews
What reviewers and owners say about the Kia Sportage
Brand reliability from Consumer Reports' predicted reliability survey, published December 2025. Links open each site's latest coverage.
Safety
How safe is the Kia Sportage?
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 Kia Sportage.
Open the calculator →Common questions
How much does a Kia Sportage cost per month?
About $966 a month new and $833 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 $643 new.
What salary do you need to afford a Kia Sportage?
Roughly $74,000 a year for a new one and $62,000 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 Kia Sportage?
A 3-year-old Sportage costs about $133 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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