How is commute cost calculated?

For cars and scooters, it's mainly fuel plus parking. Fuel cost formula: round-trip distance ÷ fuel efficiency × fuel price. For a 15 km one-way trip at 12 km/L and NT$32/L, that's NT$80/day in fuel alone, plus parking. Public transit is simpler — just fare × 2 trips.

Is public transit always cheaper?

Usually, yes. In Taipei, the NT$1,280 monthly metro+bus pass is hard to beat. But if you live somewhere with limited public transit, you might spend more time and money on transfers. This calculator compares all modes using the same distance so you can see the trade-offs clearly.

Beyond just money

Commute time, comfort, weather resilience, and whether you need to transport kids or gear all factor in. Scooters are the cheapest but unpleasant in rain. Cars are comfortable but expensive with parking and traffic. The right choice balances cost with quality of life.