Commute cost calculator: is moving closer worth it?
This commute cost calculator shows what your commute costs and whether moving closer would be cheaper: enter distance, commuting days and cost per mile (or a season ticket), plus moving costs and extra rent. You see the monthly cost, the time on the road and when a move pays for itself.
Source: Wikipedia – Commuting. Updated: .
How it is calculated
Commuting cost is the one-way distance times two, times commuting days per month, times cost per mile – or the price of a monthly ticket. At 15 miles, 20 days and 0.45 per mile that is 270 a month.
How the calculator works
- Commuting cost: distance × 2 × commuting days × cost per mile. With a monthly ticket, its price counts instead.
- Time on the road: travel time × 2 × commuting days, in hours. If you like, you value the hour in money.
- Benefit of moving: commuting cost now minus commuting cost after, minus extra rent.
- Payback: moving costs divided by the monthly benefit. If the benefit is zero or negative, the move never pays off.
What is often forgotten
- For a car, fuel is only part of it: depreciation, insurance and servicing count too – a car cost calculator gives the real price per mile.
- Time has a price: commuting 70 minutes a day costs you well over 20 eight-hour days a year.
- Extra rent can quickly eat the saving if the new area is much more expensive.
The result is a calculation, not a decision: family, school and friends matter too. All entries stay in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my commute cost?
One-way distance × 2 × commuting days per month × cost per mile. If you take the train or bus, enter the monthly ticket price instead.
How much does a mile cost by car?
It depends on the car and mileage: fuel alone is cheap, but with depreciation, insurance, tax and servicing the figure rises a lot. A car cost calculator gives the real value.
When is moving better than commuting?
When the commuting costs saved (and the time valued) exceed the extra rent. The one-off moving costs then pay back after some months or years.
How do I value time spent commuting?
Enter an amount in the field “What is an hour of your time worth?”, for example your take-home hourly pay. With 0 the time stays outside the calculation.
What counts as moving costs?
Removals, deposit, agent fees, redecoration, overlapping rent, re-registering and new furniture – everything that happens once.
Are my entries safe?
Yes. Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Sources and legal basis
As of: · Editorial policy
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