What a Toyota RAV4 really costs per month
By Mihir · Updated November 2026 · Numbers from the CarBudgetFit calculator
The sticker price is the start. Here is what a Toyota RAV4 costs each month once you add the loan, insurance, gas and upkeep, new or 3 years old.
A new Toyota RAV4 costs about $1,009 a month to own; a 3-year-old one about $900
The Toyota RAV4 is the #8 best-selling vehicle in the US this year, with 253,664 sold from January to September. At about 44 mpg combined it is one of the cheapest cars here to fuel, around $70 a month at 12,000 miles a year. Toyota models hold their value better than most, so a 3-year-old RAV4 still sells for about 79% of new. Good for resale, but it means used ones are not much of a bargain. Of the 14 compact SUVs we track, it is the 8th cheapest to own new; the Kia Sportage costs about $43 a month less.
Monthly cost breakdown, new vs used
| New | Used, 3 yrs old | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (mid-level trim) | $37,500 | $29,600 |
| Loan payment | $718 | $588 |
| Insurance | $166 | $152 |
| Gas | $70 | $70 |
| Maintenance and repairs | $55 | $90 |
| All-in per month | $1,009 | $900 |
| Interest over the loan | $6,734 | $7,277 |
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 Toyota RAV4?
Keeping all car costs under 20% of take-home pay, a new RAV4 needs a salary of roughly $77,000 and a 3-year-old one roughly $68,000. For the more comfortable 15% target, it's about $108,000 for new and $94,000 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 $218 a month, mostly in the loan payment.
| Trim | New price | All-in / month |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $33,500 | $916 |
| Mid-level | $37,500 | $1,009 |
| Top | $42,900 | $1,134 |
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 RAV4, the difference between excellent and rebuilding credit is about $147 a month, or $8,820 over a 5-year loan.
| Credit | New | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent5.2% / 7% APR | $980 | $867 |
| Good6.9% / 9.5% APR | $1,009 | $900 |
| Fair9.8% / 13.8% APR | $1,060 | $961 |
| Rebuilding13.5% / 18.5% APR | $1,127 | $1,031 |
Loan length, new Toyota RAV4
A longer loan lowers the payment but raises the interest. A 6-year loan costs about $2,794 more in interest than a 4-year loan.
| Loan length | Payment | All-in | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | $1,121 | $1,412 | $3,996 |
| 4 years | $869 | $1,160 | $5,351 |
| 5 years | $718 | $1,009 | $6,734 |
| 6 years | $618 | $909 | $8,145 |
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 | $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 this page | $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 Toyota RAV4
Brand reliability from Consumer Reports' predicted reliability survey, published December 2025. Links open each site's latest coverage.
Safety
How safe is the Toyota RAV4?
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 Toyota RAV4.
Open the calculator →Common questions
How much does a Toyota RAV4 cost per month?
About $1,009 a month new and $900 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 $718 new.
What salary do you need to afford a Toyota RAV4?
Roughly $77,000 a year for a new one and $68,000 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 Toyota RAV4?
A 3-year-old RAV4 costs about $109 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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