Avg UK round-trip commute distance
Avg one-way commute time UK
Avg annual commuting cost (car/train)
Commuting Cost Calculator
Calculate your annual commuting cost across different transport modes.
UK Commuting Costs by Transport Mode (2025)
Commuting costs vary dramatically depending on how you travel and where you live. Here is a comparison for a typical 10-mile one-way commute, 5 days per week, 46 weeks per year:
| Mode | Approximate annual cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cycling | £100–£300 | Maintenance only after initial bike cost |
| Bus (off-peak, local) | £500–£1,500 | Varies widely by area and operator |
| Motorbike / moped | £800–£1,500 | Fuel, insurance, servicing |
| Car (petrol, 40mpg) | £1,500–£3,000 | Fuel only; including wear adds ~£900/year |
| Train (regional) | £1,500–£4,000 | Season ticket discounts apply |
| Train (London commuter) | £3,000–£6,500 | E.g. London to Brighton, Reading to London |
| London Underground | £1,500–£2,500 | With contactless daily cap |
London commuter train season tickets (2025)
| Route | Annual season ticket (approx.) |
|---|---|
| London to Reading | ~£4,800 |
| London to Brighton | ~£5,500 |
| London to Cambridge | ~£5,200 |
| London to Oxford | ~£4,900 |
| London to Guildford | ~£3,100 |
Car Commuting Costs in Detail
Driving to work feels convenient but often costs more than people realise. The cost per mile includes not just fuel, but also wear and tear, additional insurance costs, and potentially parking.
HMRC mileage rates for personal context
HMRC's Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rates are set to cover the full cost of using a personal car for business travel:
- 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles per year
- 25p per mile thereafter
These rates cover fuel, wear and tear, insurance, and MOT costs proportionally. They are a useful benchmark for understanding the true cost of car commuting. A 20-mile round trip (10 miles each way) at 45p/mile = £9 per commuting day = £2,070 per year for a 5-day/46-week commuter.
Breaking down car costs
| Cost component | Example (10 miles each way) |
|---|---|
| Fuel (petrol, 40mpg, £1.50/litre) | ~£890/year |
| Wear and tear (tyres, servicing, brakes) | ~£460/year (est. 20p/mile) |
| Additional insurance cost (commuting) | ~£100–200/year |
| Depreciation (notional) | ~£400–1,000/year |
| Parking (varies hugely by location) | £0–£3,000+/year |
| Total (excluding parking) | ~£1,850–2,550/year |
Train Commuting and Railcard Discounts
Rail season tickets offer significant savings over buying daily or weekly tickets individually. However, hybrid workers need to calculate carefully whether a season ticket still represents value for money compared to daily or weekly tickets.
Season ticket savings
| Ticket type | Saving vs equivalent daily tickets |
|---|---|
| Annual season ticket | Up to 52% vs daily tickets (approx.) |
| Monthly season ticket | Up to 15% vs weekly equivalents |
| Weekly season ticket | Approx. 5 days for the price of 4 |
Railcard discounts
Railcards save one-third (33%) on most off-peak rail fares. Key railcards available in 2025:
| Railcard | Cost | Who it's for | Key restriction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-25 Railcard | £30/year | Age 16–25 | Peak travel restrictions (before 10am weekdays) |
| 26-30 Railcard | £30/year | Age 26–30 | Peak travel restrictions |
| Two Together Railcard | £30/year | Two named adults travelling together | Must travel together; peak restrictions |
| Senior Railcard | £30/year | Age 60+ | Peak restrictions (before 10am weekdays) |
| Disabled Persons Railcard | £20/year | Disabled persons | Plus one companion travels at same discount |
| Family & Friends Railcard | £30/year | Up to 4 adults + 4 children | Adults 33% off, children 60% off; peak restrictions |
Season ticket loan from employer
Many employers offer interest-free season ticket loans to help staff afford annual rail passes. The loan is repaid through monthly salary deductions. This is not a salary sacrifice scheme — you pay income tax on your full salary — but it avoids the large upfront cost of an annual season ticket and means you benefit from the annual savings.
Commuting vs Remote Work: Financial Comparison
The rise of hybrid and remote working has made commuting costs a more significant career and financial consideration. Here is a simple comparison for a train commuter spending £5,000/year on a season ticket:
| Work pattern | Annual train cost | Annual saving vs 5 days |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days/week in office | ~£5,000 (annual season) | — |
| 4 days/week (20% remote) | ~£4,000 (monthly x12) | ~£1,000 |
| 3 days/week hybrid | ~£2,500–3,000 (daily or flexi) | ~£2,000–2,500 |
| 2 days/week hybrid | ~£1,500–2,000 (daily) | ~£3,000–3,500 |
| Fully remote | £0 | ~£5,000 |
Commuting as a salary consideration
It is worth calculating your effective hourly rate after commuting costs and time. A job paying £40,000 with a £5,000/year commute and 90 minutes of daily travel time has a very different effective value than a £38,000 remote role. Many financial advisers recommend calculating your "effective take-home per working hour" when comparing job offers.
Cycling to Work: The Cheapest Commute
For commutes under approximately 10 miles, cycling is almost always the cheapest and often the fastest option in urban areas. Cyclists in UK cities average 10–15 mph, matching or beating cars and buses during peak hours.
Annual cycling costs breakdown
| Cost item | Annual estimate |
|---|---|
| Tyres (1–2 sets) | £30–£80 |
| Tube replacements / puncture kits | £10–£30 |
| Chain, brakes, cables (annual service) | £40–£100 |
| Lights (replacement batteries / charging) | £10–£30 |
| Lock (if replacing) | £0–£30 |
| Total annual running costs | £90–£270 |
Initial bike cost of £300–£2,000 (or up to £5,000 for a quality e-bike) is offset over 3–5 years by zero fuel costs. Use the Cycle to Work scheme to reduce initial cost by 28–47%.