The same car, the same model year, the same August 2026 snapshot — and up to a 28% price gap depending on the state it’s parked in. We compared state-level median asking prices for seven of America’s best-selling vehicles (all 2023 model year) and mapped where they’re cheapest and where they cost the most.
The spread, model by model
| Model (MY2023) | Cheapest state | Priciest state | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Rogue | Utah — $20,577 | Maine — $26,356 | 28.1% |
| Ford F-150 | Vermont — $39,900 | Alaska — $48,988 | 22.8% |
| Toyota RAV4 | Mississippi — $29,475 | Washington — $34,998 | 18.7% |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | Utah — $27,545 | Kansas — $32,480 | 17.9% |
| Toyota Camry | Oklahoma — $24,094 | Oregon — $27,122 | 12.6% |
| Honda CR-V | Florida — $28,789 | Tennessee — $32,393 | 12.5% |
| Honda Civic | Connecticut — $23,990 | Washington — $26,554 | 10.7% |
Even the tightest spread — the Honda Civic at 10.7% — is worth more than $2,500 on a compact car. On a Ford F-150, crossing a state line is worth up to $9,000.
The pattern behind the map
- The Mountain West and the South list low. Utah appears twice as the cheapest state; Mississippi and Oklahoma anchor the low end for crossovers and sedans. Dense dealer competition and lower operating costs both push the same way.
- The Pacific Northwest, New England and Alaska list high. Washington tops two of seven tables; Maine and Alaska carry logistics premiums — every vehicle on an Alaskan lot was shipped there.
- SUVs and trucks travel worse than sedans. The Rogue, RAV4 and F-150 show wider spreads than the Camry and Civic — demand for utility vehicles is more local, and shipping costs matter more at higher price points.
Is it worth buying out of state?
Sometimes. Transporting a vehicle 1,000+ miles typically runs $800–$1,500 — well below the $4,000–$9,000 spreads at the top of our table, but close to the Civic’s spread once you add an out-of-state inspection trip. The arbitrage is real for trucks and SUVs, marginal for compacts. Check the state-by-state numbers for a specific model on our market pages before booking a flight.
Methodology notes
Median asking prices by state for 2023 model-year vehicles, national snapshot of August 4, 2026, with at least 20 active listings per state (25–49 states qualified per model). Alaska and Hawaii carry structural shipping premiums. Medians, not averages. See how we build these studies.