RealCost Guide

Cost of Commuting 30 Miles UK

A 30-mile commute can mean two very different things: 30 miles total per day, or 30 miles each way. That difference doubles the cost, so it needs to be clear before you budget.

Use this page to estimate the monthly and yearly cost of a 30-mile commute, including fuel, parking, vehicle wear, hybrid working and public transport alternatives.

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First, check what “30 miles” means

30 miles total per day means around 15 miles each way.

30 miles each way means 60 miles per day, which doubles the fuel, wear and mileage impact.

Calculate your commute cost

Use the commute calculator below. If your commute is 30 miles total per day, enter 15 miles as the one-way distance. If your commute is 30 miles each way, enter 30 miles as the one-way distance.

One-way distance to work (miles)

Work days per week

Weeks worked per year Use 46 to allow for holidays and time off.

Fuel type

Fuel price per litre (£) Checking today's live UK average price...

Vehicle MPG Defaults to the UK real-world average for petrol (36 mpg). Enter your own vehicle's MPG if you know it.

Parking or tolls per workday (£) Optional. Leave at £0 if none apply.

Daily commute cost£0

Yearly commute cost£0

Return distance0 mi

Weekly miles0 mi

Yearly miles0 mi

Weekly cost£0

Monthly cost£0

3-year cost£0

This calculator estimates the driving side of your commute. It does not automatically include insurance, maintenance, tyres, depreciation, train tickets, bus passes or station parking.

RealCost note: For a full monthly commute budget, use Cost of Commuting Per Month UK. For a wider driving-to-work breakdown, use Cost of Driving to Work UK.

Example cost of a 30-mile commute

These examples use petrol at £1.60 per litre and 40 MPG.

30 miles total per day

Around 15 miles each way.

Fuel cost: about £5.11 per workday

30 miles each way

Around 60 miles total per day.

Fuel cost: about £10.23 per workday

Formula used: miles ÷ MPG × 4.546 × fuel price per litre. These are fuel-only examples before parking, tyres, servicing and depreciation.

Monthly and yearly fuel examples

Assuming 20 commuting days per month and 240 commuting days per year.

30 miles total daily commute

Fuel only, before parking and wear.

Monthly: about £102

Yearly: about £1,227

30 miles each way commute

Fuel only, before parking and wear.

Monthly: about £205

Yearly: about £2,455

Extra driving costs to include

Fuel is only the visible part of a 30-mile commute.

Parking
Even £5 per workday adds about £100 per month.

Tyres and servicing
Repeated commute miles increase wear and maintenance.

Repairs
Higher mileage raises the chance of repair bills over time.

Depreciation
More annual miles can reduce resale value, especially on newer cars.

Hybrid working impact

A 30-mile commute becomes much less expensive if you do not do it every weekday.

2 days per week

Fuel cost falls sharply. Daily public transport tickets may beat a monthly pass.

3 days per week

Compare driving, daily tickets, weekly tickets and flexible passes carefully.

5 days per week

Monthly fuel, parking and wear become much more important.

Should you use public transport instead?

A 30-mile commute is long enough that train, bus or coach may be worth checking.

Public transport may win if…

There is a direct route, parking is expensive, journey time is predictable, or a weekly/monthly ticket beats fuel plus parking.

Driving may win if…

Public transport needs changes, the route is unreliable, parking is free, you car share, or you need childcare stops or flexibility.

Useful calculators and guides

Use these next to check whether your 30-mile commute is sustainable.

Commute cost
Open calculator →

Monthly commuting cost
Read guide →

Cost of driving to work
Read guide →

Cheapest commute
Read guide →

Driving vs public transport
Read guide →

Full car cost
Open calculator →

Cost of commuting 30 miles UK FAQs

How much does a 30-mile commute cost?

At £1.60 per litre and 40 MPG, a 30-mile total daily commute costs about £5.45 per workday in fuel. A 30-mile each-way commute costs about £10.91 per workday in fuel.

Is 30 miles a long commute?

A 30-mile total daily commute is moderate. A 30-mile each-way commute is much more demanding because it means 60 miles per day before parking, traffic and vehicle wear.

How much is a 30-mile commute per month?

Using the example above, a 30-mile total daily commute is about £102 per month in fuel. A 30-mile each-way commute is about £205 per month in fuel.

What extra costs should I include?

Include parking, tolls, tyres, servicing, repairs, depreciation and any extra insurance or breakdown cover needed for regular commuting.

Does hybrid working reduce the cost?

Yes. Cutting a commute from five days per week to two or three days per week can reduce fuel, parking and vehicle wear sharply.

Should I drive or use public transport for a 30-mile commute?

Check both. Driving may win with free parking, car sharing and poor public transport. Public transport may win if there is a direct route and parking is expensive.