Return-to-Office Cost Calculator

Office days per week 3

Weeks per year you go in 48

Commute cost per day ($)

Gas, fares, tolls, round trip

Parking per day ($)

Food and coffee per day ($)

Count only what you would not spend at home

Commute time, one way (minutes) 30

Your hourly pay ($, for putting a value on commute time)

Out-of-pocket cost per office day $0

Out of pocket per year--

Office days per year--

Commute hours per year--

Time value of those hours (not cash)--

Reference only: Owl Labs research, as reported by The Washington Post, puts an average office day at roughly $55 out of pocket -- about $15 commuting, $9 parking, $13 breakfast or coffee, and $18 lunch. Those are secondary averages, so the numbers above use your own inputs instead.

Estimate for planning, not financial advice. Direct cost (cash you spend) and time value (what your commute hours would be worth at your pay) are shown separately because they are different kinds of cost. Employer commuter benefits, pre-tax transit programs, and home-office savings are not included.

Enter your own commute, parking and food costs plus commute time to see what going into the office really costs per day and per year, with cash costs and time value shown separately.

This tool is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial or medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions. See our Disclaimer.

How it works

Slide to your office days per week and weeks per year
Enter your daily commute, parking and food costs and your one-way commute time
See cash cost per day and per year, plus commute hours and what that time is worth at your pay

Frequently asked questions

Why does it use my numbers instead of an average?

Averages come from secondary surveys and hide huge differences between a transit rider and a driver with paid parking. Your own inputs give a more useful number.

What is the reference figure?

Owl Labs research, as reported by The Washington Post in July 2026, puts an average office day at roughly $55 out of pocket: about $15 commuting, $9 parking, $13 breakfast or coffee and $18 lunch. It is shown only for scale.