What does the RTD pass cost?

This tool uses $114 for a standard RTD monthly local pass in Denver. RTD also offers discounted passes for low-income riders, seniors, students, and a free-fare option for youth, which would lower the transit figure.

Why include per-mile depreciation?

Fuel is only part of driving's cost. Tires, maintenance, and vehicle wear add up. The IRS standard mileage rate, about $0.67 per mile, captures these real but easy-to-forget expenses, so it is included beyond raw gas.

How is fuel cost calculated?

Fuel cost equals round-trip miles divided by your car's MPG, times the gas price, times commuting days per month. Better MPG and a shorter commute both reduce this figure substantially.

Should I count parking?

Yes, if you pay for it. Downtown Denver garages run around $150 per month, a large hidden cost of driving that transit riders avoid. Set parking to zero if your workplace provides free parking.

Does transit have hidden costs too?

Some. A transit commute may add walking or a short rideshare to the station, and time has value. This tool compares direct dollar cost only; weigh convenience and commute time separately.

Denver Commute Cost Calculator

This calculator puts a true dollar figure on a Denver commute by car and compares it to an RTD monthly transit pass, so you can see which mode actually saves money each month and across a year.

How it works

Driving cost combines three components per month:

round trip   = one-way miles × 2
fuel cost    = (round trip / mpg) × gas price × days
wear cost    = round trip × IRS rate × days
drive total  = fuel cost + wear cost + monthly parking
transit total = RTD monthly pass ($114)

The IRS standard mileage rate (about $0.67/mi) approximates fuel plus maintenance, tires, and depreciation. To avoid double-counting, the tool shows fuel and wear separately but you can read the combined drive total against the flat transit pass.

Example and tips

A 12-mile one-way commute (24 round trip) in a 28-MPG car at $3.40/gal over 22 days costs about $64 in fuel, plus roughly $354 in per-mile wear, plus $150 parking — over $560/month driving, versus $114 on RTD. The wear figure dominates, which is why long Denver commutes favor transit sharply. If your real maintenance is lower than the IRS rate, reduce the per-mile figure to model your own car more closely.