How much does it cost to commute in Tucson?

It depends on your mode. A Sun Tran monthly pass is about $36, while driving 20 miles round-trip on 22 work days can run well over $100 once fuel, parking, and wear are counted.

How much is a Sun Tran monthly pass?

Sun Tran, Tucson's bus system, offers a 30-day pass for roughly $36. That flat cost usually beats driving once you include fuel, parking, and vehicle depreciation.

What is the IRS mileage rate used here?

The tool uses the IRS standard mileage rate of about $0.67 per mile to capture the full cost of driving, including fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation, not just gas.

Does this include parking?

Yes. You can enter your monthly parking cost, defaulting to around $60 for a Tucson garage or lot. Set it to zero if you park for free at work.

Why are there two driving figures?

The cash figure counts only out-of-pocket fuel plus parking, useful for short-term budgeting. The full-cost figure adds depreciation and maintenance via the IRS rate, showing the true long-run cost.

Tucson Commute Cost Calculator

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This calculator reveals the true monthly cost of your Tucson commute and compares driving against the Sun Tran transit pass. Driving costs more than just gas once you account for parking and vehicle wear.

How it works

Driving cash cost counts fuel plus parking. Full cost uses the IRS standard mileage rate to capture depreciation and maintenance:

monthly_miles = round_trip * days
fuel_cost     = (monthly_miles / mpg) * gas_price
drive_cash    = fuel_cost + parking
drive_full    = monthly_miles * 0.67 + parking
transit       = 36   (Sun Tran 30-day pass)

Example

A 20-mile round trip on 22 days is 440 miles. At 28 mpg and $3.50/gas, fuel is about $55. Add $60 parking for a $115 cash cost — far above the $36 transit pass.

Notes

The IRS rate of about $0.67/mile reflects the full economic cost of driving. Tucson gas prices and parking vary, so update the defaults. Transit suits steady weekday commutes; driving can win for irregular trips or carpools.