Commute Cost Calculator
Calculate the TRUE cost of commuting including gas, vehicle depreciation, parking, and the value of your time. Compare commuting vs remote work.
The True Cost of Commuting
Vehicle Costs
Gas is just the tip of the iceberg. The IRS rate of $0.67/mile includes depreciation, maintenance, insurance, and repairs. A 50-mile round trip costs ~$33/day in vehicle expenses alone.
Time Is Money
If you earn $30/hour and commute 1 hour each way, that's $60/day in time value. Over a year, that's $15,000 worth of your time spent sitting in traffic.
The Remote Trade-Off
A remote job paying $10,000 less might actually leave you better off when you factor in commute costs. Plus you get hundreds of hours of life back.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the true cost of commuting?
The true cost includes gas, vehicle depreciation and maintenance (the IRS calculates this at about $0.67/mile total), parking, tolls, and importantly, the value of your time. A typical 25-mile commute can easily cost $10,000-15,000 per year when all factors are properly accounted for. Most people dramatically underestimate this because they only think about gas.
How do I calculate the cost of my commute?
The easiest method is to multiply your round-trip distance by the IRS standard mileage rate ($0.67/mile in 2024), which accounts for all vehicle costs. Then add daily parking costs. Finally, add your time cost by multiplying your total daily commute time (in hours) by your hourly rate. Multiply the daily total by your work days per year to get your annual commute cost.
Is a remote job worth taking for less money?
Often yes! If your current commute costs $12,000/year and takes 400 hours, a remote job paying $10,000 less would actually leave you $2,000 ahead financially, while giving you back nearly 50 full workdays of time. Use this calculator to find your exact break-even point for comparing job offers.
Did you know?
- The average American spends 239 hours per year commuting—that's nearly 30 full 8-hour workdays.
- Studies show that every 10 minutes added to your commute decreases job satisfaction by 12% and increases the likelihood of depression.
- Your commute doesn't just cost money; it costs well-being, family time, and personal hobbies.
- Workers who commute 45+ minutes one way are 40% more likely to divorce than those with shorter commutes.
- Americans collectively spend 29 billion hours commuting each year—equivalent to 3.3 million years of human life annually.