What a Subaru Forester really costs per month
By Mihir · Updated November 2026 · Numbers from the CarBudgetFit calculator
The sticker price is the start. Here is what a Subaru Forester costs each month once you add the loan, insurance, gas and upkeep, new or 3 years old.
A new Subaru Forester costs about $992 a month to own; a 3-year-old one about $876
The Subaru Forester is the #17 best-selling vehicle in the US this year, with 156,476 sold from January to September. At about 29 mpg combined, gas comes to around $107 a month at 12,000 miles a year. Subaru models hold their value better than most, so a 3-year-old Forester still sells for about 77% 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 3rd cheapest to own new; the Kia Sportage costs about $26 a month less.
Monthly cost breakdown, new vs used
| New | Used, 3 yrs old | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (mid-level trim) | $35,200 | $27,100 |
| Loan payment | $670 | $532 |
| Insurance | $160 | $148 |
| Gas | $107 | $107 |
| Maintenance and repairs | $55 | $90 |
| All-in per month | $992 | $876 |
| Interest over the loan | $6,282 | $6,588 |
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 Subaru Forester?
Keeping all car costs under 20% of take-home pay, a new Forester needs a salary of roughly $76,000 and a 3-year-old one roughly $66,000. For the more comfortable 15% target, it's about $106,000 for new and $92,000 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 | $904 |
| Mid-level | $35,200 | $992 |
| Top | $40,200 | $1,108 |
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 Forester, 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 | $965 | $846 |
| Good6.9% / 9.5% APR | $992 | $876 |
| Fair9.8% / 13.8% APR | $1,040 | $931 |
| Rebuilding13.5% / 18.5% APR | $1,103 | $995 |
Loan length, new Subaru Forester
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 | $1,368 | $3,728 |
| 4 years | $810 | $1,133 | $4,992 |
| 5 years | $670 | $992 | $6,282 |
| 6 years | $577 | $899 | $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 this page | $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 Subaru Forester
Brand reliability from Consumer Reports' predicted reliability survey, published December 2025. Links open each site's latest coverage.
Safety
How safe is the Subaru Forester?
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 Subaru Forester.
Open the calculator →Common questions
How much does a Subaru Forester cost per month?
About $992 a month new and $876 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 Subaru Forester?
Roughly $76,000 a year for a new one and $66,000 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 Subaru Forester?
A 3-year-old Forester costs about $116 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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