Is the Commute Worth It?
A new job offer pays more, but you'd be commuting longer. Find out what your extra time is actually worth, per hour.
Fill in the fields above to see your answer.
If the commute turns out longer or shorter
Commute estimates are often optimistic. Here's how the verdict shifts:
| New one-way commute | Extra time / year | Reward / hour | Verdict |
|---|
How this calculator works
We start with your real annual gain: the salary increase, minus whatever extra you'd spend on commuting each year (gas, transit, parking). Then we figure out how much extra time the new commute costs you per year, based on the round-trip difference and how many days a month you work. Dividing one by the other gives the real reward per extra hour commuted — the number that actually matters.
We compare that to your current effective hourly rate (your current salary spread over an assumed 8-hour workday). If the reward per extra hour beats what you already earn per hour, the trade is a good one financially. If it doesn't, you're effectively working extra hours for less than your current pay.
What this doesn't account for
- Whether the new role offers remote or hybrid days that would shrink the average commute.
- Commute time you can actually use productively — reading, calls, podcasts — versus time stuck focused on driving.
- The stress, fatigue, and health impact of a longer daily commute, which don't show up in a dollar figure.
- The possibility of moving closer to the new job, which would change the math entirely.
- Non-salary differences between the offers — benefits, career growth, job security.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the real reward per hour calculated?
We take your salary increase, subtract any extra annual commute costs (gas, transit, parking), and divide by the extra hours you'd spend commuting each year. That gives you what each extra commute hour is actually worth — then we compare it against your current effective hourly rate to see if the trade is financially sound.
What commute costs should I include?
Include everything you pay each month because of commuting: gas, transit fares, parking, tolls, and any rideshare you use regularly. Don't include car insurance or general maintenance — those don't change based on commute length.
What is my "current effective hourly rate"?
It's your current salary divided by total working hours per year, assuming an 8-hour workday. This is the baseline for judging whether extra commute hours are fairly compensated. If your reward per extra hour is lower than this rate, you're effectively working extra hours for less than your current pay.
Should I count commute time if I can work or read during it?
That depends on how productively you can actually use that time. If you can genuinely work on a train, you might discount that portion. Driving time is almost entirely lost time. The calculator takes the conservative view that all commute time has a cost — if some of it is useful to you, the real trade-off is better than what we show.