Commute Cost Calculator
Enter your one-way miles, MPG, gas price, and work days to see your annual fuel cost — and what working from home one day saves.
Your commute costs money and time — most people underestimate both by a factor of 2 or more.
27min
Average US one-way commute time in 2026 — 54 minutes per day, 225 hours per year
$3k+
Average total annual commute cost including fuel, wear, and parking
1 day
One remote day per week cuts commute costs by 20% instantly
The real cost of getting to work
Fuel is only part of what your commute takes from you.
Time is the hidden cost
A 30-minute one-way commute costs 250 hours per year — over 10 full 24-hour days. At $35/hour, that's $8,750 in time value annually. Most people never count this, but it's often larger than the fuel cost.
Electric vehicles change the math
An EV costs about $0.03–0.05/mile to charge vs $0.10–0.15/mile in gas. On a 30-mile daily round trip, EVs save $400–800/year in fuel alone. Over 5 years, that offsets much of the premium purchase price.
Commute vs higher rent
Living closer to work costs more in rent — but a 30-minute shorter commute saves 125 hours/year. Only you can decide what your time is worth, but for many workers an extra $200–300/month in rent to halve their commute is easily worth it.
How the Commute Cost Calculator Works
Formula
Daily Miles = Miles One Way × 2
Cost Per Day = (Daily Miles ÷ MPG) × Gas Price
Annual Cost = Cost Per Day × Work Days Per Year
Monthly Cost = Annual Cost ÷ 12Enter one-way miles
Distance from home to office — the calculator doubles it for round trip.
Enter your MPG
Check your car's dashboard or the manufacturer's spec. City MPG is typically 15–20% lower than highway.
Enter current gas price
Use your local price per gallon — it varies significantly by region.
Set work days per year
250 is typical (5 days × 50 weeks). Adjust for hybrid schedules.
This calculator covers fuel costs only. For total commute cost, add wear and tear (roughly $0.10/mile), parking fees, and the value of your time.
To estimate your hybrid savings: reduce work days by the number of remote days. If you work 3 days in office, use 150 work days instead of 250 — saving 40% of your annual commute cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
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