Why is 76 cents per mile the default?

It is the IRS optional business standard mileage rate for 1 July–31 December 2026 (Announcement 2026-11). It is a tax-substantiation benchmark, not your fuel bill. Change it if you know a better number.

Can I deduct this commute?

This page does not answer that. Unreimbursed employee commuting is often not deductible. The rate is only a default cost assumption.

Work arrangement

Commute Cost Job Comparison

Subtract commute cash from two salaries so a higher paycheck can lose to a shorter trip.

Decision: After commute costs, which job leaves more cash?

This tool runs in your browser. CareerPathMage does not send the numbers you enter to our servers.

Default cost per mile is the IRS optional business rate for July 1–December 31, 2026 (0.76 / mile). Edit it. It is not your actual commute cost.

Closer job

Label

Annual pay (USD)

Round-trip miles

Commute days per year

Cost per mile (USD)

Parking and tolls (USD / year)

Transit (USD / year)

Farther job

Label

Annual pay (USD)

Round-trip miles

Commute days per year

Cost per mile (USD)

Parking and tolls (USD / year)

Transit (USD / year)

Result

Closer job keeps more cash after commute.

$150.40 more after the commute costs you listed.

Closer job commute: $3,075.20
Closer job after commute: $68,924.80
Farther job commute: $9,225.60
Farther job after commute: $68,774.40

How to read the result

The higher net after commute is more calculated cash after the travel costs you listed. Time, safety, and flexibility are decision factors.

Calculated facts

Totals and break-even figures come only from the values on this page. They describe the math, not what you should do.

Decision factors

Fit, risk, time, and personal constraints stay outside the calculator. A higher cash figure can still be the wrong path.

Methodology

Mileage cost is round-trip miles × commute days × cost per mile. Total commute is mileage plus parking/tolls plus transit. Net after commute is annual pay minus total commute.

Assumptions

Cost per mile is a user-editable assumption.
The IRS default, when left unchanged, is an INPUT_BENCHMARK for 2026 H2, not an observed personal cost.

Examples

Longer drive, higher pay

A $6,000 commute can erase a $5,000 salary gap. The closer job then keeps more cash under those inputs.

How to use it

Enter each job’s pay, round-trip miles, and commute days.
Keep or edit the cost-per-mile assumption and add parking or transit.
Compare commute totals and pay after commute.

Limits

Time value, vehicle wear beyond your per-mile figure, and remote days need to be reflected in the inputs.
Not tax advice.

Questions

Why is 76 cents per mile the default?: It is the IRS optional business standard mileage rate for 1 July–31 December 2026 (Announcement 2026-11). It is a tax-substantiation benchmark, not your fuel bill. Change it if you know a better number.
Can I deduct this commute?: This page does not answer that. Unreimbursed employee commuting is often not deductible. The rate is only a default cost assumption.