Commute Cost Comparator
Compare the true monthly cost of driving (fuel, wear at $0.10/mile, parking), public transit fares, and rideshare for your regular commute.
Inputs explained
- One-way commute distance — Miles from home to work.
- Commute days per month — How many days you make the round trip — 20 is typical for full time.
- Car fuel economy — Your car's miles per gallon.
- Fuel price — Gas price per gallon.
- Parking per day — Daily parking cost at work.
- Transit fare per day (round trip) — Total daily fares for buses/trains.
- Rideshare cost per one-way trip — Typical Uber/Lyft fare for one leg of the commute.
How to use it
- Fill in the fields above — each input has a hint describing exactly what to enter
- Press Calculate to get your result instantly, right on this page
- Copy the result, save the tool to favorites, or share and embed it anywhere
Understanding the result
Example: A 15-mile one-way commute 20 days/month costs $235 driving (fuel $75 + wear $60 + parking $100), versus $100 by transit and $720 by rideshare — transit wins.
Frequently asked questions
What does the $0.10/mile 'wear' figure represent in the driving cost? It's an estimate of vehicle depreciation, maintenance, and tire wear per mile driven, added on top of fuel cost to reflect the true cost of driving beyond just gas.
Why is rideshare cost calculated per one-way trip instead of per mile? Rideshare pricing is entered as a flat cost per one-way trip because fares depend on demand, surge pricing, and route rather than a simple per-mile rate, so a flat trip cost is a more realistic input.
Is the Commute Cost Comparator free to use? Yes — it is completely free, with no sign-up, no download and no usage limits. You can use it as often as you need.
Is my data private? Yes. The calculation runs entirely in your browser — the values you enter are never sent to our servers, stored or shared with anyone.
What information do I need? Just the following: One-way commute distance, Commute days per month, Car fuel economy, Fuel price, Parking per day, Transit fare per day (round trip), Rideshare cost per one-way trip. Each field includes a hint explaining exactly what to enter.
Can I use it on my phone? Yes — the tool is fully responsive and works on any device, and the same calculator is available in the EasyWorkCalcs mobile app.
Privacy
Everything you enter into the Commute Cost Comparator is processed entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, stored or shared — your data stays on your device.