For most people commuting is one of the biggest transport costs, and the time adds up to weeks every year. Fuel is only part of the cost of driving: tyres, maintenance and depreciation add roughly 10–20 cents per mile. Comparing the full cost of driving with a monthly transit pass can be eye-opening.
How to use the Commute Calculator
- One-way distance
- One-way travel time
- Commuting days per month
- People sharing the car
- Fuel economy given as
- Fuel economy
- Fuel consumption
- Fuel price
- Parking and tolls per day
- Wear and tear
- Public transport pass per month
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter the one-way distance and travel time, commuting days per month, the number of people sharing the car, fuel economy and price, daily parking and tolls, the wear-and-tear rate and the price of a monthly transit pass.
Tips
- Use your own measured figures – fuel economy, speed and prices vary a lot with driving style, traffic, load and season.
- Pick the unit in each field’s menu (miles or kilometres, mpg or L/100 km); the calculator converts everything for you.
- Fill up to the brim twice and divide the distance by the fuel added to measure real fuel economy.
- For vehicle modifications, treat results as a starting point and confirm with the parts maker or a professional mechanic.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing US and imperial (UK) gallons – a UK gallon is about 20% bigger.
- Using the advertised fuel economy instead of real-world figures.
- Forgetting tolls, parking and wear and tear when comparing driving with public transport.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| One-way distance | Units: mi, km, m, nmi |
| One-way travel time | In min |
| Commuting days per month | A number |
| People sharing the car | A number |
| Fuel economy given as | Choose one: Distance per volume (mpg, km/L), Litres per 100 km |
| Fuel economy | Units: mpg (US), mpg (UK), km/L |
| Fuel consumption | In L/100 km |
| Fuel price | Units: /US gal, /L, /UK gal |
| Parking and tolls per day | Amount in your currency |
| Wear and tear | Units: /mi, /km |
| Public transport pass per month | Amount in your currency |
What each result means
- Total driving cost per month = [Fuel per month] + [Commuting days per month]×[Parking and tolls per day] + [Commuting days per month]×2×[One-way distance]×[Wear and tear]
- Cost per person per month = [Total driving cost per month]÷[People sharing the car]
- Cost per person per year = [Cost per person per month]×12
- Saving with public transport (per month) = [Cost per person per month] – [Public transport pass per month]
- Time spent commuting per year = [Commuting days per month]×2×[One-way travel time]×12÷60
Example values
How the main result changes when One-way distance changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| One-way distance (mi) | Cost per person per month |
|---|---|
| 10 | 290.4 |
| 15 | 347.6 |
| 20 | 404.8 |
| 25 | 462 |
| 30 | 519.2 |
| 40 | 633.6 |
Formula
Driving cost per month = days × [2 × distance ÷ fuel economy × fuel price + parking and tolls + 2 × distance × wear rate]Cost per person = driving cost ÷ peopleTime per year = days × 2 × one-way minutes × 12Worked example
Inputs — One-way distance: 20 mi; One-way travel time: 35 min; Commuting days per month: 22; People sharing the car: 1; Fuel economy given as: Distance per volume (mpg, km/L); Fuel economy: 25 mpg (US); Fuel consumption: 8 L/100 km; Fuel price: $3.5 /US gal; Parking and tolls per day: $8; Wear and tear: $0.12 /mi; Public transport pass per month: $120.
Results — Fuel per month = $123.20; Total driving cost per month = $404.80; Cost per person per month = $404.80; Cost per person per year = $4,857.60; Saving with public transport (per month) = $284.80; Time spent commuting per year = 308 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much does commuting cost per year?
A 20-mile commute in a 25 mpg car at $3.50/gal costs about $1,480 a year in fuel alone, and $3,000+ with parking and wear.
What is a good wear-and-tear allowance?
10–20 cents per mile for tyres, maintenance and depreciation; the IRS mileage rate (about 67–70 cents) also includes fuel, insurance and depreciation.
How much time do I spend commuting?
35 minutes each way for 22 days a month is about 300 hours a year – more than seven working weeks.
What formula does the Commute Calculator use?
Driving cost per month = days × [2 × distance ÷ fuel economy × fuel price + parking and tolls + 2 × distance × wear rate].