How much does it cost to commute by car in Richmond?

It depends on distance and parking, but a 22-mile round trip 22 days a month at 27 mpg and $3.20 gas burns about $52 in fuel plus parking. Downtown parking near $90 can push the cash total well above a GRTC pass.

What is the GRTC pass price?

A GRTC 31-day local pass runs about $60. GRTC's local Pulse and bus network covers much of Richmond, and the tool compares this flat cost against your driving totals.

What is the IRS full-cost view?

Cash cost only counts fuel and parking. The IRS standard mileage rate (about $0.67/mile) also captures depreciation, insurance, and maintenance, giving a truer long-run cost of driving.

Does this include car payments?

The IRS full-cost view approximates ownership costs like depreciation and maintenance, but it does not model your specific loan or lease payment. Add that separately for a complete picture.

Can I change the gas price and parking?

Yes. Every input is editable, so you can plug in today's Richmond gas price, your real fuel economy, and your actual monthly parking to get a personalized comparison.

Richmond Commute Cost Calculator

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What does your Richmond commute really cost?

Commuting costs are easy to underestimate because fuel is only part of the bill. This calculator compares driving in Richmond, VA — fuel plus parking, and a fuller IRS-rate view — against a GRTC 31-day pass near $60, so you can see which option actually saves money each month.

How it works

The tool turns your trips into monthly miles, prices the fuel, and builds two driving costs:

monthly miles = round-trip miles * commute days
fuel cost     = (monthly miles / mpg) * gas price
drive (cash)  = fuel cost + monthly parking
drive (full)  = monthly miles * 0.67 + monthly parking
transit       = GRTC pass (about $60)

The cash figure is your out-of-pocket driving cost; the full figure adds the IRS standard mileage rate to capture depreciation and maintenance. Each is compared to the flat transit pass.

Tips and example

A 22-mile round trip, 22 days a month, at 27 mpg and $3.20 gas burns (484 / 27) * 3.20 = $57 in fuel. Add $90 parking and the cash driving cost is $147 versus a $60 GRTC pass — transit saves about $87/mo. On the IRS full-cost basis, driving runs 484 * 0.67 + 90 = $414, making transit even more attractive.

Park-and-ride or remote days lower your commute days input and shrink the gap — adjust the days field to model a hybrid schedule.