SmartCost Lab

Commute Cost Calculator

Add up what driving to work really costs each year — fuel, parking, tolls and optional wear and tear — compare it with public transport, and, if you want, put a value on the hours you spend travelling.

Last reviewed 16 October 2026 · How we build and check calculators

Your commute

mi

Example value.

days
weeks

52 weeks minus holidays, sick days and other time off.

By car

mpg (US)

Example value — use your car's real-world figure; stop-start commuting is often worse than the official rating.

$/gal

Reference rate: 4.33 $/gal — U.S. average retail price, regular gasoline (all formulations), U.S. EIA, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, week of 12 Oct 2026. Enter your own rate from your bill.

$
$
$

Optional: tyres, servicing and depreciation spread per distance. Leave blank to count fuel, parking and tolls only.

min

By public transport (optional)

$
$

If you enter a pass price, it replaces the daily fares.

min

Value of your time (optional)

$/hour

Leave blank to compare money only.

Driving to work costs per year

$996.13

Per commuting day
$4.33
Per month (average)
$83.01
Distance per year
6,900 mi
Yearly car commuting cost by item
Show data table
Fuel$996.13

What goes into the car figure

distance per day = one-way distance × 2 fuel per day = distance × (L/100 km ÷ 100) × price per litre cost per day = fuel + parking + tolls + other cost per distance × distance cost per year = cost per day × days per week × working weeks

Fuel, parking and tolls are the costs you pay because you commute. Tyres, servicing and depreciation also rise with mileage, but how much is hard to pin down for one car — so the “other running costs” field is optional. If you want a ready-made figure, some people use their employer's mileage reimbursement rate, but note that official mileage rates (such as the IRS standard mileage rate) are designed for tax purposes and include fixed costs like insurance, so they usually overstate the extra cost of one more trip.

Comparing with public transport

Enter your daily fares or a monthly pass and the calculator puts the two side by side. A pass replaces daily fares, so try both to see which is cheaper for your number of days. Hybrid workers often find pay-as-you-go fares beat a monthly pass once they're in the office three days a week or fewer — the scenario tabs make that comparison quick.

Valuing your time

Time spent driving is time you can't use for anything else; time on a train can sometimes be used for reading or work. If you enter what an hour is worth to you, the comparison chart adds the value of each option's travel time. There's no right number — some people use their after-tax hourly pay, others a lower figure for time they don't mind spending.

Reference fuel prices

Defaults for the fuel price field
DefaultCountryValueSource and period
Gasoline / petrolUS$4.331/galU.S. EIA, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, week of 12 Oct 2026
Gasoline / petrolUK175.28p/LGOV.UK (DESNZ), Weekly road fuel prices, week of 12 Oct 2026
Gasoline / petrolCanada173.80¢/LStatistics Canada, Table 18-10-0001-01, August 2026 (monthly)
Gasoline / petrolAustralia—No verified national figure on file — the field asks for your own rate.

Prices vary a lot by region — enter your local pump price for a sharper answer. Driving electric? Use the EV Charging Cost calculator to get a cost per mile or km, or the Home Office Electricity calculator to see what a work-from-home day costs instead.

Sources

Results are estimates based on the figures you enter and the stated assumptions. They are not financial, tax, legal or engineering advice. Spotted a problem? Tell us.