Commute Cost Calculator
Enter your one-way distance, commuting days, the true per-km cost of running your car, annual parking, and your transit pass price. The calculator totals both options per year and per commuting day - the comparison employers never put in the offer letter.
Commute comparisons usually stop at fuel versus ticket price. The honest car figure multiplies distance by an all-in rate of 0.35-0.55 per km, because depreciation, maintenance, tyres and insurance ride along with every kilometre - fuel is only about a third of it.
How to use
- Measure one-way door-to-door distance for each mode (maps apps give it per mode - transit is often shorter than driving).
- Set the per-km figure to an all-in rate, not pump price; 0.45 is a sensible middle for a petrol car.
- Enter parking and pass prices and read the yearly gap - then weigh it honestly against door-to-door time and what the train time is worth to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the true cost per km of driving?
All-in figures run 0.35-0.55 per km for a typical petrol car: fuel roughly a third, with depreciation the largest single block, then maintenance, tyres and insurance. Using pump price alone understates driving cost by about two-thirds.
Is a monthly transit pass always cheaper?
For commutes over about 8 km each way at 4-5 days a week, almost always. Under that, or for hybrid patterns of 2-3 office days, pay-as-you-go fares can beat the pass - price both before committing.
How do I compare when I already own the car?
Separate fixed from marginal: insurance and depreciation happen regardless, so the commute's marginal cost is km-rate plus parking. But be honest - if commuting is why the household needs the second car, the fixed costs belong in the comparison.
Does working from home change the maths?
Enormously: one fewer office day a week cuts the annual figure by 20%. Hybrid workers should enter actual commuting days, not a nominal full-time week - most overestimate their office attendance by a day.