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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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my actual gas cost per mile?
Divide your gas price per gallon by your car's MPG. For example, at $3.50/gallon in a 30 MPG car, you're paying $0.117 per mile. This only includes fuel—not maintenance, insurance, or depreciation, which the IRS factors into their $0.67/mile standard mileage rate.
Why is my gas cost per mile so different from the IRS mileage rate?
The IRS standard mileage rate of $0.67/mile includes gas, oil, maintenance, tires, depreciation, and insurance. Gas alone typically accounts for only about 17% of that total cost. Most people underestimate their true per-mile expense by 3-4x when they only count what they pay at the pump.
Is an electric vehicle actually cheaper than gas for a daily commute?
For a typical 60-mile daily commute, an EV costs roughly $840-960/year in electricity versus $1,755/year for a 30 MPG gas car—saving about $915/year in energy costs alone. However, EVs typically cost $8,000-15,000 more upfront, so you'd need 9-16 years to break even on the purchase price premium at current electricity and gas prices.
How much does MPG really matter for my yearly fuel costs?
It's significant: a 30 MPG car costs $870/year less in gas than a 20 MPG car on the same 60-mile daily commute at $3.50/gallon. Over a 5-year vehicle ownership period, that's $4,350 in savings, making fuel efficiency one of the few car costs you can directly control.
This article is for informational purposes only. See our disclaimer.