The math behind the DwellOrDrive comparison.

The calculator uses a small set of editable formulas. It does not try to guess future traffic, rent, fares, or vehicle costs for you.

How often you commute each month

days per week × 52 ÷ 12

Driving distance each month

one-way miles × 2 × monthly commute days

Driving cost each month

monthly miles × (fuel price ÷ MPG + wear cost per mile) + monthly commute days × (daily tolls + daily parking)

Transit cost each month

monthly commute days × (round-trip fare + daily parking)

Commute time each month

one-way minutes × 2 × monthly commute days ÷ 60

Optional value of commute time

monthly commute hours × your selected hourly value

This is not an extra bill. It is an optional way to include the personal time spent commuting in the comparison. Set the hourly value to $0 if you only want to compare cash costs.

Total used for the monthly comparison

housing + direct commute expense + commute time value

Effective hourly pay

(annual salary − annual direct commute expense) ÷ (2,080 work hours + annual commute hours)

Salary only affects this optional effective-pay number. It does not change which home has the lower calculated monthly cost.

How much more the shorter-commute home could cost

absolute difference in (direct commute expense + commute time value)

This is the approximate extra monthly housing cost the lower-commute option could absorb before its commute advantage is used up, based on the values you entered.

What the calculator leaves out

The model does not account for individualized taxes, insurance differences, moving costs, future rent changes, employer benefits, housing appreciation, schools, childcare, reliability, safety, health effects, or personal quality of life. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not financial advice.