How is driving cost calculated?

Driving cost combines two views: direct fuel (miles divided by MPG times gas price) plus parking, and a full ownership view using the IRS standard mileage rate, which bundles fuel, depreciation, insurance, and maintenance into one per-mile figure. The IRS view is the truer long-run cost.

What is the IRS standard mileage rate?

It is a per-mile figure the IRS publishes each year to approximate the full cost of operating a car, currently around $0.67 per mile. Multiplying your monthly commuting miles by it gives an all-in driving cost beyond just fuel.

Why include parking separately in the fuel view?

San Francisco parking is a large, fixed monthly expense often $300 to $400 for a garage space. The fuel-only view adds it explicitly so you see the out-of-pocket cash cost, while the IRS view captures operating cost but not parking.

How much does a Muni pass cost?

An Adult Clipper Muni-only monthly pass is around $86, while the Muni plus BART within-SF pass (Pass A) is about $102. The tool defaults to a typical pass price you can adjust to match your exact fare product.

Does this account for bridge tolls or carpool savings?

Not directly. If you cross a bridge, add the toll to your driving cost; if you carpool, divide the driving cost by the number of riders. The tool focuses on the in-city Muni-versus-solo-driving comparison most SF commuters face.

San Francisco Commute Cost Calculator

For a San Francisco commuter the choice between a Muni pass and driving is rarely just about gas. This calculator builds the true monthly cost of each option: the flat transit pass on one side, and on the other side driving costs assembled from local gas prices, parking, and the IRS standard mileage rate that captures depreciation and maintenance.

How it works

Monthly commuting miles drive the two driving views, which are compared against the flat transit pass:

miles/month   = oneWay × 2 × commuteDays
fuel cost     = (miles/month / mpg) × gasPrice
driving cash  = fuel cost + parking/month
driving IRS   = miles/month × irsRatePerMile  (+ parking)
transit cost  = monthly pass price

The IRS standard mileage rate (about $0.67 per mile) folds fuel, depreciation, insurance, and maintenance into one number, so the IRS view is the more honest long-run cost of driving. Parking is added explicitly because it is a large, fixed San Francisco expense the mileage rate does not include.

Example and tips

A 6-mile one-way commute, 21 days a month, in a 28 MPG car at $5.10 a gallon with $350 monthly parking: that is 252 miles a month, about $46 in fuel, so roughly $396 cash to drive — versus an $86 Muni pass. On the IRS basis driving is about 252 × $0.67 + $350 ≈ $519. In dense San Francisco the pass usually wins decisively once parking is counted. If you carpool, divide the driving figure by the number of riders before comparing.