Parking Cost Calculator
Calculate total parking cost from hourly or daily rates and duration.
Compare pay-as-you-go versus monthly pass to find break-even days.
Monthly parking cost calculator helps commuters and city dwellers understand the true annual cost of parking and compare options like monthly permits, daily rates, and garages vs. street parking.
The core formulas:
Monthly Parking Cost = Daily Rate × Working Days per Month
Annual Parking Cost = Monthly Cost × 12
Break-even Daily Rate = Monthly Permit Price / Working Days per Month
True Hourly Rate = Daily Rate / Hours Parked per Day
What each variable means:
- Working Days per Month — typically 20–22 days per month for a full-time commuter
- Monthly Permit — a flat fee for unlimited parking; usually cheaper if you park daily
- Break-even Daily Rate — at this daily rate, the monthly permit and daily pay rates cost the same
- True Hourly Rate — useful for comparing garages that charge different hourly rates but cap at a daily max
Worked example: Downtown garage: daily rate $18, monthly permit $280. You commute 21 days/month.
Monthly cost (daily rate) = $18 × 21 = $378/month Monthly cost (permit) = $280/month Monthly savings with permit = $378 − $280 = $98/month Annual savings = $98 × 12 = $1,176/year
Break-even daily rate = $280 / 21 = $13.33/day. If daily rate is above $13.33, the monthly permit is cheaper.
Typical monthly parking costs by city (US, 2024):
- New York City: $500–$700/month
- San Francisco: $350–$550/month
- Chicago: $200–$350/month
- Houston/Dallas: $100–$200/month
- Suburban areas: $50–$150/month
Parking is often the second or third largest commuting expense after fuel. Consider remote work days, public transit, or bike parking to reduce this cost.