Why is driving more expensive than just gas?

Every mile also wears your tires, brakes, and engine and adds depreciation. The IRS recognizes this with a per-mile rate. This calculator separates fuel from a per-mile operating cost so the driving figure reflects the true cost, not just the pump price.

What per-mile cost should I use?

The default 0.20 dollars per mile covers maintenance, tires, and depreciation excluding fuel, which is added separately. If you prefer the full IRS standard rate of about 0.67 dollars per mile, lower your fuel entry to zero to avoid double counting.

How much is a Valley Metro pass?

A standard Valley Metro 31-day all-system pass is about 64 dollars, the default here. Reduced-fare passes for eligible riders cost less, and a U-Pass through a participating employer or school may be cheaper still.

Does this include the cost of my time?

No. The calculator only compares out-of-pocket money. If transit takes longer than driving, weigh that time against the dollar savings shown to decide what is worth it for your situation.

What gas price should I enter?

Use the current average pump price in metro Phoenix for your fuel grade. Arizona prices move with national trends but are often a little below the West Coast average. Update the field whenever prices shift to keep the estimate accurate.

Phoenix Commute Cost Calculator

Most people compare commuting options on gas alone and badly underestimate what driving actually costs. This calculator adds parking and per-mile vehicle wear to the fuel bill, then sets the total against a Valley Metro pass so you can see the honest monthly and annual difference in Phoenix.

How it works

Driving cost is built from three parts and compared to the flat transit pass:

monthly miles = one-way miles × 2 × commute days
fuel          = monthly miles ÷ mpg × gas price
wear          = monthly miles × per-mile operating cost (ex-fuel)
driving total = fuel + wear + parking
transit total = monthly pass

Separating fuel from the per-mile wear cost lets you use realistic numbers without double-counting: fuel uses your actual mpg and the local gas price, while the per-mile figure captures maintenance, tires, and depreciation.

Example and tips

A 14-mile one-way commute, 21 days a month, in a 27 mpg car at $3.65 per gallon burns about $28 of fuel, adds roughly $118 of wear at $0.20 per mile, plus $80 parking — close to $226 a month to drive. A $64 Valley Metro pass would save about $162 a month, or nearly $2,000 a year. If you would still keep and insure the car regardless, focus on the fuel and parking lines, since those are the costs that genuinely disappear when you switch to transit.