What a Mazda CX‑50 really costs per month
By Mihir · Updated November 2026 · Numbers from the CarBudgetFit calculator
The sticker price is the start. Here is what a Mazda CX-50 costs each month once you add the loan, insurance, gas and upkeep, new or 3 years old.
A new Mazda CX‑50 costs about $1,000 a month to own; a 3-year-old one about $860
The Mazda CX-50 is the #41 best-selling vehicle in the US this year, with 95,351 sold from January to September. At about 27 mpg combined, gas comes to around $115 a month at 12,000 miles a year. A 3-year-old CX-50 is estimated at about 74% of its new price, saving roughly $9,200 up front. Of the 14 compact SUVs we track, it is the 7th cheapest to own new; the Kia Sportage costs about $34 a month less.
Monthly cost breakdown, new vs used
| New | Used, 3 yrs old | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (mid-level trim) | $35,200 | $26,000 |
| Loan payment | $670 | $507 |
| Insurance | $160 | $148 |
| Gas | $115 | $115 |
| Maintenance and repairs | $55 | $90 |
| All-in per month | $1,000 | $860 |
| Interest over the loan | $6,282 | $6,284 |
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 Mazda CX-50?
Keeping all car costs under 20% of take-home pay, a new CX-50 needs a salary of roughly $76,000 and a 3-year-old one roughly $64,000. For the more comfortable 15% target, it's about $107,000 for new and $90,000 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 $204 a month, mostly in the loan payment.
| Trim | New price | All-in / month |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $31,400 | $912 |
| Mid-level | $35,200 | $1,000 |
| Top | $40,200 | $1,116 |
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 CX-50, the difference between excellent and rebuilding credit is about $138 a month, or $8,280 over a 5-year loan.
| Credit | New | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent5.2% / 7% APR | $973 | $831 |
| Good6.9% / 9.5% APR | $1,000 | $860 |
| Fair9.8% / 13.8% APR | $1,047 | $912 |
| Rebuilding13.5% / 18.5% APR | $1,111 | $973 |
Loan length, new Mazda CX-50
A longer loan lowers the payment but raises the interest. A 6-year loan costs about $2,607 more in interest than a 4-year loan.
| Loan length | Payment | All-in | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | $1,046 | $1,376 | $3,728 |
| 4 years | $810 | $1,141 | $4,992 |
| 5 years | $670 | $1,000 | $6,282 |
| 6 years | $577 | $907 | $7,599 |
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 this page | $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 Mazda CX-50
Brand reliability from Consumer Reports' predicted reliability survey, published December 2025. Links open each site's latest coverage.
Safety
How safe is the Mazda CX-50?
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 Mazda CX-50.
Open the calculator →Common questions
How much does a Mazda CX-50 cost per month?
About $1,000 a month new and $860 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 $670 new.
What salary do you need to afford a Mazda CX-50?
Roughly $76,000 a year for a new one and $64,000 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 Mazda CX-50?
A 3-year-old CX-50 costs about $140 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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