What a Nissan Sentra really costs per month
By Mihir · Updated November 2026 · Numbers from the CarBudgetFit calculator
The sticker price is the start. Here is what a Nissan Sentra costs each month once you add the loan, insurance, gas and upkeep, new or 3 years old.
A new Nissan Sentra costs about $793 a month to own; a 3-year-old one about $685
The Nissan Sentra is the #28 best-selling vehicle in the US this year, with 112,439 sold from January to September. At about 34 mpg combined, gas comes to around $91 a month at 12,000 miles a year. A 3-year-old Sentra is estimated at about 74% of its new price, saving roughly $7,100 up front. Of the 5 compact cars we track, it is the 3rd cheapest to own new; the Kia K4 costs about $19 a month less.
Monthly cost breakdown, new vs used
| New | Used, 3 yrs old | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (mid-level trim) | $27,200 | $20,100 |
| Loan payment | $502 | $376 |
| Insurance | $155 | $143 |
| Gas | $91 | $91 |
| Maintenance and repairs | $45 | $75 |
| All-in per month | $793 | $685 |
| Interest over the loan | $4,711 | $4,658 |
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 Nissan Sentra?
Keeping all car costs under 20% of take-home pay, a new Sentra needs a salary of roughly $60,000 and a 3-year-old one roughly $51,000. For the more comfortable 15% target, it's about $82,000 for new and $69,000 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 $162 a month, mostly in the loan payment.
| Trim | New price | All-in / month |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $24,300 | $724 |
| Mid-level | $27,200 | $793 |
| Top | $31,100 | $886 |
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 Sentra, the difference between excellent and rebuilding credit is about $103 a month, or $6,180 over a 5-year loan.
| Credit | New | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent5.2% / 7% APR | $773 | $663 |
| Good6.9% / 9.5% APR | $793 | $685 |
| Fair9.8% / 13.8% APR | $829 | $723 |
| Rebuilding13.5% / 18.5% APR | $876 | $768 |
Loan length, new Nissan Sentra
A longer loan lowers the payment but raises the interest. A 6-year loan costs about $1,956 more in interest than a 4-year loan.
| Loan length | Payment | All-in | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | $784 | $1,075 | $2,796 |
| 4 years | $608 | $899 | $3,743 |
| 5 years | $502 | $793 | $4,711 |
| 6 years | $432 | $723 | $5,699 |
Compared with other compact cars
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 K4 | $774 | $669 |
| Hyundai Elantra | $784 | $677 |
| Nissan Sentra this page | $793 | $685 |
| Toyota Corolla | $800 | $721 |
| Honda Civic | $834 | $749 |
Reviews
What reviewers and owners say about the Nissan Sentra
Brand reliability from Consumer Reports' predicted reliability survey, published December 2025. Links open each site's latest coverage.
Safety
How safe is the Nissan Sentra?
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 Nissan Sentra.
Open the calculator →Common questions
How much does a Nissan Sentra cost per month?
About $793 a month new and $685 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 $502 new.
What salary do you need to afford a Nissan Sentra?
Roughly $60,000 a year for a new one and $51,000 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 Nissan Sentra?
A 3-year-old Sentra costs about $108 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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