Commute Cost Calculator
What driving to work really costs — fuel, wear, parking, and tolls, per day and per year
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Quick summary
Enter your one-way distance, schedule, MPG, and gas price — plus parking, tolls, and a per-mile wear allowance — to see the true cost of commuting per day, month, and year. A 20-mile each-way drive, 5 days a week at 25 MPG and $3.50 gas, with $0.20/mile wear, runs around $28 a day and roughly $6,900 a year. The wear figure captures maintenance, tires, and depreciation that fuel-only estimates miss — useful when weighing transit, moving closer, or remote days.
Reviewed by Simple Calculators TeamLast reviewed
How to use this calculator
- Enter the inputs requested by the calculator.
- Choose the units or options that match your situation and review the assumptions.
- Run or update the calculation to see the result.
- Review the result, breakdown, and formulas shown on the page.
- Check the inputs, units, dates, and limitations before saving or sharing the result.
Frequently asked questions
How much does my commute cost?
Add fuel (miles ÷ MPG × gas price), plus parking, tolls, and a per-mile allowance for wear and depreciation. A typical 40-mile round-trip commute can run $25–$35 a day once you count everything — often $6,000–$8,000 a year. This calculator totals all four costs for your specific commute.
Should I include vehicle wear and depreciation?
Yes, if you want the true cost. Fuel is only part of it — every mile also adds maintenance, tire, and depreciation costs, roughly $0.15–$0.25 per mile for an average car. Ignoring it understates your commute by thousands a year and makes driving look cheaper than transit than it really is.
Is it cheaper to drive or take transit?
Compare your all-in driving cost here against a transit pass. Driving often looks cheap if you count only gas, but adding parking, tolls, and wear frequently tips the balance toward transit — especially in cities with expensive parking. Remote or hybrid days cut whichever you choose proportionally.
How do I lower my commute costs?
The biggest levers are distance and frequency: remote/hybrid days cut costs directly, and carpooling splits them. Beyond that, a more efficient vehicle, avoiding toll routes, and cheaper parking (monthly pass vs daily) all help. Run the numbers here to see which change saves the most for your situation.
Key terms
- Wear per Mile
- Maintenance, tires, and depreciation cost per mile — the hidden part of driving.
- Round-Trip Distance
- One-way distance doubled; the miles you actually drive each day.
- All-In Cost
- Fuel plus wear, parking, and tolls — the true commute cost.
Methodology, sources & limitations
This page shows the formula, assumptions, and limitations used for this estimate. Rates, thresholds, and other time-sensitive inputs can change, so verify them against the relevant official source before relying on a result.
For our review approach and the primary sources we consult, see the methodology and source policy. If you spot an outdated figure or formula, please contact us with a correction.