The $30K Full-Size Truck Is Dead—Here’s How Much More You’ll Pay for a Pickup in 2023
Quick, how much do half-ton pickup trucks cost? If you said they start under $30k, you’re wrong. You would have been right during the 2022 model year. A few months ago, you could buy multiple half-ton trucks for under $30k. But for 2023, every automaker has increased its MSRP: The $30k full-size truck is no more.
Which 2022 full-size pickup trucks cost less than $30k?
The 2022 Ford F-150 XL was a stripped-down version of the regular F-150 with a $29,990 MSRP. Ram also sold freshly-built fourth-generation 1500s for $29,515 as the 2022 Ram 1500 Classic.
Chevrolet’s entry-level Silverado 1500 is the WT, or “Work Truck.” Similar to the F-150 XL, the WT is a basic regular-cab version of the Silverado targeted at fleet owners. GM advertised a $29,300 MSRP for the 2021 Silverado 1500–which it continued to sell long into 2022. But by the end of 2022, the cost of the Silverado WT started at $31,500.
Every other 2022 pickup truck only came with a four-door cab and thus was significantly more expensive. This included the fifth-generation Ram 1500, which the automaker advertised as starting at $37,090. Toyota chose a similar configuration for the third generation of its Tundra, which debuted in 2022 with an MSRP of $35,950. Finally, the Nissan Titan’s smallest cab was its “King Cab” with rear-hinged rear doors and an MSRP of $38,810.
Half-ton trucks clung to a $30k MSRP for years
There’s a reason many truck buyers figure a half-ton pickup truck starts under $30k: they did for a very long time. But as the cost of building a vehicle increases, their price tags must rise eventually.
By 2000, Ford only offered a couple of trims of its regular cab F-150 for less than $20k. But in the same year, a Big Mac cost $2.39 (according to EatThis.com). While the prices of burgers and other goods have doubled, automakers have fought to keep their half-ton pickup MSRPs below $30k.
At the end of 2022, I reported that the $30k pickup was the $5 footlong of the truck world. After I wrote that article, global supply chain crises drove the cost of manufacturing through the roof. Almost every MSRP went up, and every manufacturer simultaneously killed its $30k pickup truck.
How much does a half-ton pickup truck cost in 2023?
Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram have all added several thousand dollars to their half-ton pickup truck MSRPs for 2023, landing well above $30k.
If you want to upgrade any of the above trucks with a second row of seating, you’ll end up paying several thousand more. If you also want either a 4WD or a V8, your lowest price will be above $40k.
What’s more, the MSRP is the price of the most basic trim level. If you want modern infotainment or more comfortable upholstery, you’ll have to spend a few grand more.
Below are the 2023 pickup truck trim levels with the lowest MSRPs. I’ve listed both the manufacturer’s advertised prices and Edmunds‘ estimated total because the second number includes hidden fees such as a high destination charge.
| Configuration | Manufacturer’s Advertised MSRP | Edmunds’ Estimated Total | |
| Ford F-150 XL | Regular cab (2-door) | $34,585 | $35,735 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT | Regular cab (2-door) | $36,300 | $37,480 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 Pro | Regular cab (2-door) | $37,200 | $37,157 |
| Ram 1500 “Classic” | Regular Cab (2-door) | $31,270 | $31,445 |
| Ram 1500 Tradesman | Quad cab (small 4-door) | $37,905 | $38,295 |
| Toyota Tundra SR | Double cab (small 4-door) | $38,965 | $39,049 |
| Nissan Titan S | King Cab (rear suicide doors) | $40,350 | $41,495 |
Next, find out the cheapest full-size 4-door pickup truck or see how much used truck you can buy for under $25k in the video below:
