What this calculator does
Commute cost & time comparison works out compares driving to public transit for a regular commute, in cost and time. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.
The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.
The formula
FormulaDriving cost/day = distance × consumption/100 × fuel price + parking; transit cost/day = fare; both projected over commuting days per year
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Round-trip driving distance (km) | A number, measured in km. Starts at 30. |
| Fuel consumption (L/100km) | A number, measured in L/100km. Starts at 8. |
| Fuel price ($/L) | A number, measured in your currency/L. Starts at 1.9. |
| Parking, per day ($) | A number, measured in your currency. Starts at 12. |
| Driving time, round trip (minutes) | A number, measured in minutes. Starts at 50. |
| Transit fare, round trip ($) | A number, measured in your currency. Starts at 8. |
| Transit time, round trip (minutes) | A number, measured in minutes. Starts at 70. |
| Commuting days per year | A number. Starts at 230. |
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the answer changes with round-trip driving distance
Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while round-trip driving distance varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.
How the answer changes with round-trip driving distance
| Round-trip driving distance (km) | Cheaper option | Driving cost per year | Transit cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Public transit, by $1,444.40/year | $3,284.40 | $1,840.00 |
| 22.5 | Public transit, by $1,706.60/year | $3,546.60 | $1,840.00 |
| 30 | Public transit, by $1,968.80/year | $3,808.80 | $1,840.00 |
| 45 | Public transit, by $2,493.20/year | $4,333.20 | $1,840.00 |
| 60 | Public transit, by $3,017.60/year | $4,857.60 | $1,840.00 |
| 90 | Public transit, by $4,066.40/year | $5,906.40 | $1,840.00 |