Gas Cost Calculator: The Real Cost of Your Commute (Per Mile and Per Year)

Gas is the most visible car expense because you pay it weekly at the pump. It's not the largest car expense.

IRS standard mileage rate (2024): $0.67/mile. That rate includes gas, oil, maintenance, tires, depreciation, and insurance — all the costs of operating a car. Most people who calculate only gas costs are underestimating their per-mile cost by 3-4x.

The Gas Cost Alone

Gas cost per mile = (Gas price per gallon) ÷ (MPG)

At $3.50/gallon in a 30 MPG car: $0.117/mile.

At $3.50/gallon in a 20 MPG car: $0.175/mile.

A 30-mile daily commute (60 miles round trip) at $0.117/mile: $7.02/day, $1,755/year.

Same commute at $0.175/mile: $10.50/day, $2,625/year.

The MPG difference costs $870/year in gas alone.

EV Comparison

An EV driving 60 miles/day uses roughly 18-24 kWh depending on vehicle and conditions. At $0.16/kWh (national average): $2.88-3.84/day, $720-960/year.

Compared to the $0.117/mile gas car: $1,755 vs $840/year in energy costs — $915/year savings, or $4,575 over 5 years.

This excludes maintenance savings (EVs have significantly lower maintenance costs) and the purchase price premium (EVs typically cost $8,000-15,000 more upfront than comparable gas vehicles).

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This article is for informational purposes only. See our disclaimer.