Commuting has hidden costs beyond gas — parking, tolls, and your time all add up. This calculator estimates what your commute costs per month and per year so you can factor it into job decisions and effective pay comparisons.
How to use this calculator
- Enter one-way commute distance in miles.
- Enter work days per week, fuel price, and vehicle mpg.
- Add daily parking and toll costs.
- Review monthly and annual costs plus estimated driving hours.
Formula
Daily fuel = (One-way miles × 2 ÷ MPG) × Fuel price. Daily cost = Fuel + Parking + Tolls. Annual cost = Daily cost × Work days × 52. Commute hours estimated at 30 mph average speed.
Example
A 15-mile one-way commute, 5 days per week, at $3.50/gallon and 28 mpg with $8/day parking costs about $334/month and $4,008/year, plus roughly 520 hours driving annually.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this include car depreciation?
- No. Additional miles increase maintenance, tires, and resale impact. Treat this as a direct-cost baseline.
- How does this relate to job offers?
- Pair this with the Job Offer Comparison calculator to weigh pay against commute cost and time.