How much does the RTA pass cost in New Orleans?

The RTA Jazzy Pass for unlimited monthly rides on New Orleans streetcars and buses runs about $55 per month. The tool uses that as the default transit cost, and you can adjust it for shorter-term passes.

Why use the IRS mileage rate instead of just gas?

Fuel is only part of driving's cost. The IRS rate (about $0.67 per mile) bundles gas, depreciation, maintenance, and insurance into one figure, giving a far more honest comparison than fuel alone. The tool defaults to it for that reason.

Should I include parking in driving costs?

Yes. Parking is often the deciding factor downtown. The tool adds your monthly parking to the per-mile driving cost so the comparison against a flat transit pass reflects your real out-of-pocket spend.

How are round-trip miles calculated?

The tool doubles your one-way distance for the return leg, then multiplies by your commuting days per month. That monthly mileage drives both the IRS and fuel-only cost calculations.

Is my data sent anywhere?

No. Every calculation runs locally in your browser, and none of your inputs leave your device.

New Orleans Commute Cost Calculator

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The cheapest way to get to work in New Orleans is rarely obvious: a monthly RTA Jazzy Pass runs about $55, but driving adds fuel, depreciation, and downtown parking. This free calculator puts both options side by side using the IRS mileage rate — the figure that captures the true cost per mile — so you can see which one actually wins each month.

How it works

The tool first computes monthly round-trip mileage, then prices driving two ways and compares the total to a flat transit pass:

round_trip_miles = one_way * 2 * days_per_month
irs_cost  = round_trip_miles * irs_rate        (~$0.67/mile, full cost)
fuel_cost = round_trip_miles / mpg * gas_price  (fuel only)
driving_total = chosen_cost + monthly_parking
transit_total = rta_pass

It then reports the cheaper option and the monthly savings. The IRS basis is recommended because it includes depreciation, maintenance, and insurance, not just fuel.

Notes and example

A 10-mile one-way commute over 22 days is 440 round-trip miles. At the IRS rate that is about $295 in driving cost, plus $80 parking — roughly $375/month — versus the $55 RTA pass, making transit far cheaper here. Switch to fuel-only and driving looks deceptively cheap because it ignores wear and depreciation. Adjust the inputs to your route; everything runs in your browser.