Commute Cost Calculator
Enter your commute distance, vehicle costs, and wage. See the full yearly price of getting to work — in money and in time — and what a shorter commute or remote job is actually worth.
| Vehicle cost per year | — |
| Hours spent commuting per year | — |
| That time valued at your wage | — |
| Cost per workday | — |
Why the commute is a hidden pay cut
True commute cost = Miles × Cost per mile × Days + Commute hours × Your wage
A 30-mile round trip, 230 days a year, at the IRS-style $0.65/mile costs about $4,485 in vehicle expenses alone. Add an hour a day — 230 hours, nearly 29 working days — valued at $30/hour, and the total yearly cost is roughly $11,400. That is the honest number to weigh against a raise, a move, or a remote offer.
Using this number in real decisions
- Comparing job offers: subtract yearly commute cost from each offer before comparing. A $70,000 job 5 minutes away can beat a $78,000 job an hour away.
- Negotiating remote days: each remote day per week on the example above is worth about $2,280/year. Two days: ~$4,600 — a raise nobody has to approve.
- Moving closer: paying $200/month more in rent to cut the commute in half costs $2,400/year against ~$5,700 of savings.
Pair with the salary to hourly calculator — put commute time into the weekly hours to see your commute-adjusted wage.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 30-mile daily commute cost?
At the IRS-style rate of $0.65/mile over 230 working days, about $4,485/year in vehicle costs — before valuing your time. With an hour a day valued at $30/hour, the true cost is over $11,000/year.
What does the cost per mile include?
The IRS standard mileage rate bundles fuel, maintenance, tires, insurance, and depreciation. Fuel alone is usually only a third of it — the car quietly eats the rest.
Should I count commute time as money?
For decisions, yes. Commute time is unpaid work time: you cannot use it freely, and studies consistently rank commuting among the least enjoyable daily activities. Valuing it at your wage keeps job comparisons honest.
How much do I save working from home?
Divide the yearly total by your commute days, then multiply by remote days. On a typical $11,400/year commute, each weekly remote day saves about $2,300/year.
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Last updated: 2026-07-07