This calculator compares the real monthly cost of driving to work in Raleigh against a GoRaleigh transit pass (about $60/month). It prices driving two ways — out-of-pocket cash cost and full cost including depreciation — so you can see which commute is cheaper.
How it works
Driving cash cost is fuel plus parking; full cost uses the IRS standard mileage rate to capture wear and depreciation:
monthly_miles = round_trip_miles * days_per_month
fuel_cost = (monthly_miles / mpg) * gas_price
drive_cash = fuel_cost + parking
drive_full = monthly_miles * 0.67 + parking
transit = 60 (GoRaleigh 31-day pass)
Tips and example
Commuting 20 round-trip miles, 22 days a month, at 28 mpg and $3.20/gal with
$80 parking: monthly miles are 440, fuel is about $50, so cash driving is
about $130 versus the $60 transit pass — transit saves about $70/month.
Notes
This is an estimate. Update gas price, parking, and pass cost for your situation. The IRS full-cost figure is most useful when deciding whether to keep a car at all, since it includes maintenance and depreciation you may not feel each month.