Know exactly when a transit pass pays for itself

Enter your ride cost and pass price. See your break-even point in seconds. No account, no tracking, no guesswork.

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Your transit details

Pick a preset to fill in common values, or enter your own numbers below.

What you pay without a pass
Total cost of the pass
How long the pass lasts
For savings estimate

Compare multiple passes

Add up to four passes and see which one hits your riding pattern best.

Pass name Price Period Break-even rides Your savings
23 +$16.00
12 -$34.00

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter your single ride fare. Look at your transit agency's website for the base fare. If you use a stored-value card, enter the per-ride deduction amount.
  2. Enter the pass price. This is what you pay upfront. If your employer reimburses part of it, check the subsidy box and enter the monthly amount.
  3. Pick the pass period. Weekly, monthly, or annual. The calculator normalizes everything to a monthly view so you can compare across periods.
  4. Enter your typical monthly rides. Count both directions of your commute plus any weekend or evening trips. The savings estimate uses this number.
  5. Read the break-even number. If you ride more than this, the pass saves money. If you ride less, stick with pay-per-ride.

Common mistakes people make

  • Counting one-way trips only. A round-trip commute is two rides. If you ride to work and back five days a week, that's about 44 rides a month, not 22.
  • Forgetting off-peak trips. Weekend errands, evening events, and midday appointments add up. Track your actual rides for one week and multiply by four.
  • Ignoring employer benefits. Many employers offer pre-tax transit benefits or direct subsidies. A $50 monthly subsidy can cut your effective pass price in half.
  • Comparing the wrong periods. A $34 weekly pass costs about $147 per month. Always compare monthly equivalents.
  • Assuming the pass covers everything. Some passes exclude express buses, airport routes, or certain zones. Check the fine print.

Example scenarios

The daily commuter

Maria rides the subway twice a day, five days a week, plus two weekend rides. That's about 48 rides a month. Her fare is $2.90 and the monthly pass is $132. Her break-even is 46 rides. She saves about $8.80 per month with the pass, or $105.60 per year.

The hybrid worker

James goes to the office three days a week. That's about 26 rides a month. His fare is $2.75 and the monthly pass is $127. His break-even is 47 rides. He rides fewer than that, so pay-per-ride saves him about $54.50 per month.

The annual pass gambler

Lin is considering a $1,400 annual pass. Her fare is $3.00. The monthly equivalent is about $116.67, so her break-even is 39 rides per month. She averages 42 rides, saving about $9.33 per month. Over a year that's $112 in savings, but she also gets the convenience of never worrying about fare balance.

Frequently asked questions

What if I ride fewer times than the break-even number?

Stick with pay-per-ride. You'll spend less overall. The calculator shows exactly how much you'd save by not buying the pass.

Can I compare more than one pass at once?

Yes. Use the comparison table to add up to four passes and see their break-even points side by side.

Does this work for weekly passes?

Absolutely. Enter the weekly cost and set the period to weekly. The calculator converts everything to a monthly view.

What about employer transit benefits?

If your employer covers part of the pass, subtract that amount from the pass cost before entering it. That way the break-even reflects what you actually pay.

Is my data saved anywhere?

No. Everything runs in your browser. If you use the Share button, your numbers are encoded in the URL. Nothing is sent to a server.

Can I use this for bus, train, and ferry systems?

Yes. As long as you know your single ride fare and the pass price, the math works for any transit mode.