What a Ram 1500 really costs per month
By Mihir · Updated November 2026 · Numbers from the CarBudgetFit calculator
The sticker price is the start. Here is what a Ram 1500 costs each month once you add the loan, insurance, gas and upkeep, new or 3 years old.
A new Ram 1500 costs about $1,389 a month to own; a 3-year-old one about $1,232
The Ram 1500 is the #4 best-selling vehicle in the US this year, with 325,348 sold from January to September (counting all Ram pickups). At about 20 mpg combined, fuel is a real line item: around $155 a month at 12,000 miles a year, more if you tow or drive mostly in town. Pickups hold their value well; a 3-year-old 1500 is estimated at about 78% of its new price. Of the 9 full-size pickups we track, it is the 9th cheapest to own new; the Ford Maverick costs about $437 a month less.
Monthly cost breakdown, new vs used
| New | Used, 3 yrs old | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (mid-level trim) | $50,200 | $39,200 |
| Loan payment | $984 | $801 |
| Insurance | $180 | $166 |
| Gas | $155 | $155 |
| Maintenance and repairs | $70 | $110 |
| All-in per month | $1,389 | $1,232 |
| Interest over the loan | $9,227 | $9,924 |
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 Ram 1500?
Keeping all car costs under 20% of take-home pay, a new 1500 needs a salary of roughly $112,000 and a 3-year-old one roughly $98,000. For the more comfortable 15% target, it's about $154,000 for new and $135,000 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 $286 a month, mostly in the loan payment.
| Trim | New price | All-in / month |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $44,800 | $1,266 |
| Mid-level | $50,200 | $1,389 |
| Top | $57,400 | $1,552 |
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 1500, the difference between excellent and rebuilding credit is about $202 a month, or $12,120 over a 5-year loan.
| Credit | New | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent5.2% / 7% APR | $1,349 | $1,186 |
| Good6.9% / 9.5% APR | $1,389 | $1,232 |
| Fair9.8% / 13.8% APR | $1,458 | $1,314 |
| Rebuilding13.5% / 18.5% APR | $1,551 | $1,410 |
Loan length, new Ram 1500
A longer loan lowers the payment but raises the interest. A 6-year loan costs about $3,830 more in interest than a 4-year loan.
| Loan length | Payment | All-in | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | $1,536 | $1,941 | $5,476 |
| 4 years | $1,191 | $1,595 | $7,332 |
| 5 years | $984 | $1,389 | $9,227 |
| 6 years | $847 | $1,252 | $11,162 |
Compared with other full-size pickups
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Maverick | $952 | $854 |
| Toyota Tacoma | $1,116 | $1,045 |
| Chevrolet Colorado | $1,120 | $1,005 |
| Nissan Frontier | $1,123 | $1,010 |
| Ford F-150 | $1,254 | $1,115 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | $1,259 | $1,122 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | $1,302 | $1,159 |
| Ram 1500 this page | $1,389 | $1,232 |
More full-size pickups: Toyota Tundra.
Reviews
What reviewers and owners say about the Ram 1500
Brand reliability from Consumer Reports' predicted reliability survey, published December 2025. Links open each site's latest coverage.
Safety
How safe is the Ram 1500?
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 Ram 1500.
Open the calculator →Common questions
How much does a Ram 1500 cost per month?
About $1,389 a month new and $1,232 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 $984 new.
What salary do you need to afford a Ram 1500?
Roughly $112,000 a year for a new one and $98,000 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 Ram 1500?
A 3-year-old 1500 costs about $157 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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