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Transportation & Vehicles
"What is my car really costing me?"
Model the true cost of every transportation decision — buying vs. leasing, EV vs. gas, commuting vs. remote, and the hidden costs of car ownership.
Transportation is the second-biggest household expense
After housing, transportation is the largest expense for most households — averaging $10,000–$15,000/year in the US.
Yet most people have only a vague sense of what their car actually costs per mile, per year, or per decade.
Depreciation, insurance, maintenance, fuel, and the hidden cost of commute time add up to numbers
that often surprise people when calculated honestly. These tools put the full picture in front of you.
Should I buy or lease a car?
Leasing has lower monthly payments but you never build equity, pay mileage penalties, and face fees at lease-end. Buying costs more upfront but you own the asset and can sell it. For most drivers who keep cars 5+ years, buying is cheaper — but if you want a new car every 3 years and drive fewer than 12,000 miles/year, leasing can be competitive. Our car ownership calculator models the total 5-year cost of buying vs. leasing vs. using public transit.
Is an EV actually cheaper than a gas car over time?
For most drivers who charge at home, yes — within 5–7 years. The key variables are: how much you drive, local electricity vs. gas prices, available purchase incentives, and whether you can charge at home (home charging is 3–5x cheaper than public chargers). Our EV vs gas calculator models the complete 10-year ownership cost including purchase price, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and resale.
Is a used car always cheaper than new?
Not always. Used cars avoid the first 2–3 years of steepest depreciation, but come with higher maintenance risk and no warranty. A 3-year-old used car with 40,000 miles might cost 40–50% less than new, but could need $3,000–$8,000 in repairs over the next 5 years. Our used car cost calculator factors in depreciation rate, expected repair costs, and the opportunity cost of the purchase price.
Does commute distance really affect total cost of living?
Significantly. A 1-hour daily commute costs around $15,000–$25,000/year in combined money (gas, wear, transit) and time value (at a $30/hr rate). This often eliminates the rent savings from living further away. Our commute cost calculator lets you compare two scenarios: pay higher rent to live close vs. pay lower rent and commute — with full time-value accounting.
How much does fully remote work save vs. going to an office?
For a typical office worker with a 1-hour daily commute, working from home saves $8,000–$20,000/year when you include commute costs, work clothing, lunches, and the value of reclaimed time. Our remote work savings calculator breaks this down for your specific commute, hourly rate, and lifestyle costs.