Educational estimate, not financial advice. Vehicle cost uses the IRS standard mileage rate, a published reimbursement figure that bundles fuel, maintenance, and depreciation — it's a reasonable proxy, not your exact out-of-pocket spending, which depends on your specific vehicle. Parking and tolls are whatever you enter; this doesn't look up rates for any specific location. Commute time value is optional and is not money you actually spend or save — it's your own gross hourly pay applied to time spent commuting, to help you see the time trade-off alongside the dollar one. The transit comparison uses only what you enter for a monthly pass cost; it doesn't model any specific transit agency's fares or routes.
Full disclaimer.
Why “just gas” understates the cost
Most people size up a commute by the fuel it burns. But fuel is only part of what driving costs — tires, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation add up to far more per mile. The IRS publishes a standard mileage rate that bundles all of that into one number, and it's usually several times higher than gas alone. Add parking and the hours spent in traffic, and a commute that feels nearly free can rival a real monthly bill.
How to read the results
- Vehicle cost is your annual miles times the current IRS standard business mileage rate — a reasonable proxy for total operating cost, not a fuel receipt. Your specific car will differ.
- Parking and tolls are whatever you enter — the truly out-of-pocket, location-specific part.
- Commute-time value (optional) applies your hourly rate to the hours you spend commuting each year. It's a way to see the time trade-off, not a bill; switch it off to ignore it.
- Total annual cost sums the active lines — the number to weigh against a transit pass.
What this doesn't cover
Your actual fuel spend (which depends on your car and local prices), vehicle-specific maintenance, insurance differences, and any employer parking benefit. The IRS rate is a flat national benchmark, so it won't match your exact spending — it's meant to capture the true all-in cost of a mile, which pure gas math misses.
FAQ
Why the IRS rate instead of my gas bill?
Because gas is a fraction of the real cost. Tires, repairs, insurance, and depreciation are the rest, and the IRS rate is the closest single figure that captures all of it.
Does the transit comparison count travel time?
Yes — if commute-time value is on, it's applied to transit time too, so both are compared on the same basis.