Commute Cost Comparison Calculator
Compare monthly costs: driving vs MRT vs bus for your daily commute.
What is a Commute Cost Calculator?
A commute cost calculator compares total monthly expenses across different transport modes — driving, MRT, and bus — for your daily commute in Singapore. It factors in fuel, parking, ERP, insurance for driving, and distance-based fares or the $128 monthly travel pass for public transport.
Enter your commute details to compare driving, MRT, and bus costs side by side.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on published HDB, URA, and LTA rates. Actual fees may vary by location, time of day, vehicle type, and operator. It is not intended to be a definitive quote.
Rates last verified: 4 Apr 2026.
Verify with LTA (https://www.lta.gov.sg). Full disclaimer at smartcalculator.sg/disclaimer.
Quick Reference
- • Adult monthly travel pass: $128/month for unlimited MRT and basic bus rides
- • MRT fares: $1.09 (shortest trip) to $4.40 (longest trip), distance-based
- • HDB season parking: approximately $110/month for cars (before GST)
- • Average petrol cost: approximately $0.20-$0.25 per km for a typical car
- • Driving is typically 3-5x more expensive than public transport when all costs are included
How Commute Cost Comparison Works
This calculator compares total monthly commute costs across three transport modes: driving, MRT, and bus. It helps you make an informed decision about the most cost-effective way to get to work in Singapore.
Driving costs are calculated using your commute distance, vehicle fuel consumption rate, current petrol prices, monthly parking fees (season or hourly), ERP charges along your route, and a proportional share of annual insurance premiums.
Public transport costs are calculated using distance-based MRT and bus fares for your daily commute, multiplied by working days per month. The calculator also compares this against the $128 monthly travel pass and recommends whichever is cheaper for your specific commute pattern.
Driving
Fuel + parking + ERP + insurance
Excludes loan, road tax, and maintenance
MRT
Distance-based fares from $1.09 to $4.40
Monthly pass at $128 may be cheaper
Bus
Distance-based fares, transfer discounts apply
Same monthly pass covers all bus routes
Who This Calculator Is For
Workers Deciding Between Driving and Public Transport
Total commute cost comparison.
- Monthly MRT/bus commute: $60–$120 (typical distance)
- Monthly driving (excl. ownership): petrol + ERP + parking = $400–$900+
- Total car ownership: $2,000–$5,000+/month including depreciation
- Typical finding: driving costs 3–5× more than public transport
Employers Reviewing Transport Allowances
Benchmarking commute subsidies.
- Common allowance range: $100–$200/month
- Some MNCs: cover 100% of public transport (NETS FlashPay top-up)
- Tax note: transport allowance is taxable if >$200 and not tied to actual mileage/receipts
- MOM: transport allowance is part of gross salary for EA purposes
Remote and Hybrid Workers
Commute cost changes with fewer office days.
- 3-day commute: public transport cost roughly halved vs full-time
- Car owners: fixed costs (depreciation, insurance) don't decrease with fewer trips
- Best case for no car: hybrid workers benefit most from not owning
- Hot-desking offices: transport is more flexible and cost-manageable
Students Planning University Commute
Managing transport costs on a student budget.
- Student concession card: ~50% discount on MRT/bus
- Jurong to NUS monthly: ~$40–$60 with concession
- NUS/NTU shuttle bus: free for students
- Peak surcharge: does not apply on student concession cards
Public Transport vs Private Car: Monthly Commute Cost
| Factor | MRT + Bus | Own Car |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed monthly costs | None | Depreciation, insurance ($1,500–$3,000+) |
| Petrol / power | None | $200–$500/month |
| ERP charges | None | $50–$300/month |
| Parking at office | None | $100–$400/month |
| Monthly commute cost | $60–$120 | $2,000–$5,000+ (all-in) |
| Reliability | High (MRT/bus) | Traffic-dependent |
| Flexibility | High frequency, fixed routes | Full flexibility |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is driving cheaper than MRT in Singapore?expand_more
Almost never. Driving costs include fuel, parking ($110+ per month for HDB season parking), ERP charges, insurance, and maintenance. In contrast, the adult monthly travel pass for unlimited MRT and bus trips is just $128 per month. When you factor in all driving costs, public transport is typically 3-5x cheaper.
What costs are included in the driving estimate?expand_more
The driving estimate includes fuel (based on distance, fuel consumption rate, and petrol price), parking fees (season or hourly), ERP charges, and a proportional share of car insurance. It does not include car loan repayments, road tax, COE depreciation, or maintenance costs — so actual driving costs are even higher.
What is the adult monthly travel pass?expand_more
The adult monthly travel pass costs $128 per month and provides unlimited rides on all MRT lines and basic bus services in Singapore. It is available for purchase at TransitLink ticket offices and via the SimplyGo app. For most daily commuters, it is cheaper than paying per-trip fares.
How are MRT fares calculated?expand_more
MRT fares are distance-based, starting from $1.09 for short trips and going up to a maximum of $4.40 for the longest journeys. Fares are charged per tap using contactless payment cards or SimplyGo. Transfer discounts apply when switching between MRT and bus within 45 minutes.
Sources
- • LTA (lta.gov.sg) — public transport fares, monthly travel pass, and ERP rates
- • HDB (hdb.gov.sg) — season parking and hourly parking rates
- • TransitLink (transitlink.com.sg) — MRT and bus fare structure