How much does an MTA Maryland pass cost?

A monthly MTA Maryland local pass costs about $90, covering CityLink and LocalLink buses, light rail, and metro subway within the standard fare zone. It is a flat monthly cost regardless of mileage.

What is the true cost of driving to work?

Driving cost is more than gas. The IRS standard mileage rate captures fuel, depreciation, maintenance, and insurance. Adding parking gives a realistic total that often exceeds the transit pass.

Why use the IRS mileage rate?

The IRS rate (about 70 cents per mile) reflects the full operating cost of a vehicle, not just fuel. Using it avoids understating the real expense of driving by ignoring wear, maintenance, and depreciation.

How is fuel-only cost calculated?

Fuel cost equals total miles divided by miles per gallon, multiplied by the local gas price. The calculator shows both the fuel-only figure and the all-in IRS-rate figure so you can see the difference.

Does parking really matter that much?

In downtown Baltimore, monthly parking can run around $120 or more, which alone can exceed the $90 transit pass. Including parking is essential for an honest commute comparison.

Baltimore Commute Cost Calculator

What this tool does

The cheapest commute is rarely obvious because driving costs hide behind fuel, parking, depreciation, and maintenance. This calculator compares Baltimore’s MTA monthly pass (about $90) against the true cost of driving, using local gas prices, your fuel economy, downtown parking (around $120/mo), and the IRS per-mile operating rate that captures full vehicle cost.

How it works

First the tool computes monthly driving mileage, then both a fuel-only and an all-in cost:

monthly_miles = one_way_miles * 2 * commute_days
fuel_cost     = (monthly_miles / mpg) * gas_price
allin_cost    = monthly_miles * irs_rate_per_mile + parking
transit_cost  = monthly_pass

The IRS standard mileage rate (about $0.70/mile) bundles fuel, depreciation, insurance, and maintenance, so the all-in figure is a fairer comparison than fuel alone. The tool flags whichever option — transit or driving — costs less per month.

Example and notes

For a 12-mile one-way commute, 20 days/month: monthly_miles = 12 * 2 * 20 = 480. At 28 mpg and $3.40/gal, fuel-only is (480 / 28) * 3.40 ≈ $58.3. All-in at $0.70/mile plus $120 parking is 480 * 0.70 + 120 = $456. Against a $90 transit pass, driving costs roughly $366/mo more once you count depreciation and parking. If you can avoid paid parking, the gap narrows sharply — adjust the parking input to model your real situation.