Commute Cost Calculator
Overview
Calculate the true cost of commuting including gas, wear and tear, time value, and remote work savings comparison
Key Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Calculator ID | commute-cost |
| Category | Lifestyle |
| Vertical | Lifestyle & Transportation |
| App route | /verticals/lifestyle/commute-cost |
| API endpoint | /api/public/calculate?id=commute-cost |
Inputs
| Input ID | Label | Type | Required | Default | Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
distance | One-Way Distance | number | Yes | 15 | min 0.1, max 200, step 0.5 |
daysPerWeek | Commute Days Per Week | number | Yes | 5 | min 1, max 7, step 1 |
mpg | Vehicle MPG | number | Yes | 28 | min 5, max 100, step 1 |
gasPrice | Gas Price | currency | Yes | 3.5 | min 1, max 10, step 0.01 |
parkingCost | Daily Parking/Tolls | currency | No | 10 | min 0, max 100, step 0.5 |
hourlyWage | Your Hourly Rate | currency | No | 30 | min 0, max 500, step 1 |
commuteTimeMinutes | Commute Time (One-Way) | number | Yes | 30 | min 1, max 300, step 1 |
How to Use
- Enter Distance & Frequency — Input your one-way commute distance and how many days per week you commute
- Add Vehicle Details — Enter your vehicle MPG and current gas price in your area
- Include Parking & Tolls — Add daily parking fees and toll costs if applicable
- View Total Costs — See daily, monthly, and annual costs including IRS wear & tear rate plus remote work savings
Result Surfaces
| Output | Display Type | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Computed results | result-card | - |
Related Calculators
FAQ
What is the true cost of commuting to work?
Beyond gas, commuting costs $0.67/mile for wear and tear (IRS rate 2024-2026), plus parking, tolls, and your time. A 30-mile daily commute costs $20/day ($5K/year) before gas or time value. Most people only track gas and underestimate costs by 70%.
How much does remote work save me?
Remote work eliminates commute costs completely. A typical 15-mile each way commute costs $4-6K/year in vehicle expenses plus 250+ hours of time (worth $7,500 at $30/hr). That's equivalent to a 5-10% pay raise.
What is the IRS mileage rate and why use it?
The IRS standard mileage rate ($0.67/mile in 2024-2026) includes gas, depreciation, insurance, maintenance, and tires. This is what businesses reimburse employees. Using just gas cost underestimates true expense by 65%.
Evidence
src/lib/calculators/registry.ts(metadata)src/lib/calculators/page-registry.ts(page/HowTo metadata)src/lib/calculators/lifestyle/commute-cost.ts(calculator config)
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