Commute Cost Calculator
Find out what your commute actually costs every year. This calculator goes beyond fuel to include vehicle depreciation, tolls, and parking. It also shows what remote salary would be equivalent after cutting out the commute entirely.
Annual Commute Cost
| Fuel cost/yr: | $0 |
| Depreciation/yr: | $0 |
| Tolls/yr: | $0 |
| Parking/yr: | $0 |
| Equivalent salary raise needed (WFH): | $0 |
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your one-way commute distance in miles and how many days per week you drive. Select gasoline or electric vehicle, then enter your efficiency and fuel cost. Add any daily toll and monthly parking charges.
The IRS depreciation toggle uses the standard business mileage rate of $0.67 per mile for 2024, which accounts for wear, maintenance, and insurance as a cost of the miles you drive. Enable it to see the full economic cost of your commute, not just what you spend at the pump.
How Commute Cost Is Calculated
The calculator works through four cost components and adds them together.
Annual miles: One-way distance x 2 x commute days/week x 52 weeks.
Example: 25 miles one-way, 5 days/week = 25 x 2 x 5 x 52 = 13,000 miles/year.
Fuel cost: Annual miles / MPG x fuel price per gallon = 13,000 / 30 x $3.50 = $1,516.67/yr.
Depreciation: Annual miles x $0.67/mile = 13,000 x $0.67 = $8,710/yr.
Tolls: Toll per round trip x commute days/week x 52 = annual toll cost.
Parking: Monthly parking x 12.
For the typical 25-mile commute with 30 MPG, $3.50 gas, and depreciation included, the true annual cost is often $10,000 to $12,000. That is the raise you would need to break even on a return-to-office mandate.
Real Commute Cost Examples
- 25 miles each way, 5 days/week, 30 MPG, $3.50 gas, $10 daily parking: Fuel $1,517 + Depreciation $8,710 + Parking $2,600 = $12,827/year. That is over $1,000 per month.
- 10 miles each way, 3 days/week, public transport equivalent at $4 each way: Enter distance as 0, toll as $8 round trip, 3 days/week. Annual cost = $8 x 3 x 52 = $1,248.
- EV commuter, 30 miles each way, 0.30 kWh/mile, $0.14/kWh: Annual energy = 31,200 miles x 0.30 kWh x $0.14 = $1,310. Much cheaper on fuel, but depreciation still applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does depreciation cost more than fuel in this example?
Because the IRS mileage rate captures depreciation, insurance, and maintenance together. These costs are real even if you do not pay them as a single bill. Your car loses value with every mile. If you drive 13,000 miles per year just for commuting, that wear is a real financial cost that most people overlook entirely.
What is the equivalent salary raise figure?
It is the pre-tax salary increase you would need to cover your annual commute cost. Since commute costs are paid with after-tax dollars, you need to earn more gross income than the commute costs. The calculator shows the raw commute cost as the raise figure (a conservative estimate without grossing up for taxes).
Can I use this for an electric vehicle?
Yes. Switch the vehicle type to Electric and enter your car's energy consumption in kWh per mile and your electricity price. The fuel calculation changes but depreciation still applies at the same IRS rate, since EV depreciation is comparable to or higher than gasoline vehicles.
