The cost of the commute to work adds up

3 months ago 19

By the time Jess Whatman counted extended day care costs on top of petrol, tolls and lunches, she was forking out $400 a week just to get to work.

“I was commuting from the Central Coast to Sydney five days a week. That’s a 2.5-hour round trip every day, just to sit at a desk to do work I could have done from anywhere,” Whatman says.

Burnt-out and increasingly frustrated at the office mandates, she began exploring a more sustainable career option closer to home.

Jess Whatman with husband Clint and their two girls, Jovi and Ella.

“It wasn’t just the time, it was the cost. Petrol, tolls, parking, lunches, extended day care – it all added up. I was leaving home in the dark, getting back late, missing time with my two young girls. It started to feel completely unsustainable,” Whatman says.

The tipping point came two years ago when she realised she was spending more time in transit than with her family. “That’s when I knew something had to change.”

She finally quit her job and struck out on her own, launching an outsourcing business. Now, she works from home five days a week.

Avoiding the commute

In today’s cost-of-living crisis, the decision to avoid the commute into the office isn’t just a logistical one; it’s increasingly a financial choice as workers contemplate whether it would be cheaper if they could work from home.

Working from home, which began as a crisis response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has evolved into a lasting shift in workplace norms. Hybrid work is putting cash back into household budgets.

But not all employers are keen. Some are taking a hard line on workplace flexibility, forcing some workers to decide whether their job is really worth it.

A single train trip in Sydney can range from $4.20 to $10.33.

So far, Amazon, Tabcorp and Dell are among large employers to issue strict return-to-office mandates, requiring staff this year to be in the office five days a week.

But it’s not cheap to get to work. The fluctuating cost of petrol, train and tram fares, tolls, parking costs, coffee and lunch adds up. Train fares in Sydney vary based on distance and the time of day. A single trip can range from $4.20 to $10.33. The daily cap for full-fare rides on Melbourne’s public transport network is $11 a day.

The average person spends about $99 a week on commuting costs, according to Finder, equivalent to $4367 a year. This includes $42 for fuel. Toll roads, parking and other costs such as car insurance are excluded. Public transport costs are about $39 a week on average.

The daily cap for full-fare rides on Melbourne’s public transport network is $11 a day.

Not adding up

Workers are feeling the pinch because their wages aren’t keeping up with rising costs, leaving them worse off than they were a year ago.

Wages increased 3.2 per cent over the past year, but it might not be enough to outpace the cost of living. The Consumer Price Index rose 2.4 per cent in the 12 months to February 2025. Everyday essentials like groceries, utilities, rent and fuel outstripped wage gains in many regions.

A worker earning $80,000 a year receiving a 3.2 per cent raise will gain about $2560 a year. However, they are likely to be about $3000 worse off when rising costs across groceries, rent, fuel and other essentials are accounted for.

Working from home also allows workers to save money by having more time to handle household tasks, gardening, errands and childcare, and preparing meals at home rather than relying on takeaways.

If you’re commuting to the office, here are some ways to cut costs.

Concessions: Check to see if you’re eligible for any public transport concessions.

Carpool: Find someone in your local area travelling at the same time each day and take it in turns to do the driving, halving your petrol costs.

Carshare: If you don’t use your car much beyond commuting, it could be worth considering carsharing. You can book a car by the day and let the owner pay maintenance and registration costs.

Travel another way: Add it up. If it’s cheaper to take public transport, walk or cycle to work, commit to travelling a cheaper way at least one or two days a week.

Try a co-working space: Check if there is a co-working space in your suburb and ask your employer if you can work from there instead, which could halve the cost of your commute.

Find cheaper parking: It might be convenient to park in the multi-storey carpark but look for cheaper or free parking spots further away and walk to the office from there.

Pack your lunch: It’s an obvious one, but packing your lunch can save you $100 a week or more in purchasing sandwiches and salads from the deli across the road. Make the time.

Work from home: Ask your employer if you can work from home a day or two a week to save costs. Given the rise in the cost of living, it’s possible they will agree.

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