Lease or Buy a Toyota Camry? 3-Year Cost Compared (November 2026)
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Camry LE costs $14,659 vs about $7,790 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $6,869, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it.
By the CarWhere Research Team · Manufacturer lease programs, verified CarWhere deals and our depreciation report · Updated daily
Lease for 3 years
| Advertised payment | $339/mo × 39 mo |
|---|---|
| Due at signing | $2,999 |
| Total over 39 months | $15,881 |
| Prorated to 36 months | $14,659 |
| Lease cost, 3 years | $14,659 |
Toyota's California-region offer on the 2026 Camry LE, ends November 30, 2026. No acquisition or disposition fee is listed with the offer, so none is added.
Buy, then sell after 3 years
| MSRP | $31,379 |
|---|---|
| Price CarWhere buyers pay | $29,379 |
| Resale at 3 years (−31.2%) | −$21,589 |
| Cash buy, 3 years | $7,790 |
| Financed at 4.99% APR, 3 years | $10,665 |
Price = the $31,379 MSRP minus the 6.4% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Camry (117 verified deals). Finance line: Toyota's 4.99% / 48-month APR offer, $0 down, interest paid in the first 36 months.
Buying wins by $6,869 over 3 years (cash); financed, the gap is $3,994 in favor of buying.
If you keep it longer
Leasing continuously at the same effective rate vs buying once and selling at year N (resale from our depreciation report; cash purchase).
| Years kept | Lease (continuous) | Buy and sell | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $14,659 | $7,790 | Buy |
| 4 | $19,545 | $9,453 | Buy |
| 5 | $24,432 | $10,363 | Buy |
| 6 | $29,318 | $12,089 | Buy |
| 7 | $34,204 | $12,999 | Buy |
| 8 | $39,091 | $13,878 | Buy |
Assumptions
- Lease: $2,999 due at signing + $339 × 38 remaining payments = $15,881 over 39 months, prorated to 36 months ($14,659). You return the car with no excess-mileage or wear charges.
- Buy: the $31,379 MSRP minus the 6.4% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Camry (117 verified deals); sold after 3 years at 68.8% of the MSRP.
- Resale: CarWhere depreciation report (2026-10-25) for the Toyota Camry — median used-listing price by model year vs the median new price.
- Excluded on both sides: sales tax, registration, insurance, maintenance.
FAQ
Is it better to lease or buy a Camry?
Over 3 years, leasing a 2026 Camry LE costs $14,659 vs about $7,790 to buy and sell (per CarWhere data) — buy wins by $6,869, and buying's lead grows the longer you keep it. The lease side is the current advertised Toyota offer ($339/mo for 39 months, $2,999 due at signing); the buy side is the $31,379 MSRP minus the 6.4% median discount CarWhere buyers got on the Camry (117 verified deals), less the 31.2% a 3-year-old Camry loses in value. Taxes, registration, insurance and maintenance are left out of both.
How much does a Camry lose in value in 3 years?
About 31.2% below the new price at 3 years old, from median used-listing prices vs the median new price in CarWhere's depreciation report (2026-10-25). On this $31,379 MSRP that is a resale value of about $21,589.
How long do you have to keep a Camry for buying to win?
Buying already costs less at 3 years ($7,790 vs $14,659 to lease), and the gap widens each year you keep it.
Does financing change the Camry lease-or-buy math?
With Toyota's 4.99% APR for 48 months offer (ends November 30, 2026), financing the full price adds about $2,875 of interest in the first 3 years, so buying and selling costs about $10,665 vs $14,659 to lease. That assumes $0 down and top-tier credit.