Work From Home vs Office Commute Cost Calculator

Compare real commute fuel and transit costs against home office utilities, time saved, and CO2 emissions.

Remote work vs office: working out the saving per day and year

Each remote day saves the commute and the gap between lunch at the office and at home, minus the extra home energy cost net of any employer allowance. With the defaults (3 days a week, 44 weeks, 24 km by car) the tool finds €17.54 per day, about €2,315 a year and 176 hours of commuting avoided.

The formulas

  • Daily car commute = (2 × one-way distance ÷ 100) × cost per 100 km + monthly tolls and parking ÷ 21.65 days.
  • Daily transit commute = pass price × (1 − employer share) ÷ 21.65 days, counted only if you no longer go to the office at all.
  • Lunch gain = office lunch − home lunch (never negative).
  • Daily saving = commute + lunch gain − (home energy − employer remote-work allowance).
  • Annual saving = daily saving × remote days per week × weeks worked.

Example with the default values

A 48 km round trip at €11.50 per 100 km costs €5.52, plus €35 of parking ÷ 21.65 = €1.62, so €7.14 of commuting. Lunch saves 14 − 4.50 = €9.50. The €2.70 allowance exceeds the €1.80 energy cost, adding €0.90. Total €17.54 per day; over 3 × 44 = 132 days, €2,315 a year (€192.90 a month). Time saved is 176 hours (7.3 days) and CO₂ 855 kg. By public transport, with a €90.80 Navigo pass half refunded, the pass is still paid as long as you go to the office 2 days a week, so the commute saves nothing and the annual saving drops to €1,373. Fully remote, the cancelled pass counts for €2.10 a day (€45.40 a month).

Limits

  • By public transport, the pass only counts as saved when you work fully remote (5 days out of 5); buying single tickets on office days is not modelled.
  • Monthly tolls and parking stand for a full month at the office: parking paid by the month and kept is not a saving, so enter only the tolls.
  • The CO₂ factors (0.135 kg/km by car, 0.015 kg/km by transit) are indicative values, not verified.
  • Actual-expense deductions, mileage allowances and the sustainable mobility package are ignored. The rules quoted are French. A personal estimate that does not replace professional advice.

Sources and dates: French remote-work allowance exempt from contributions at €2.70 per day up to €59.40 per month without a collective agreement, €3.30 and €72.60 with one (Entreprendre Service Public, news of 7 January 2026, 2026 scale); mandatory 50% employer share of transit passes (French Labour Code, art. R3261-1); monthly Navigo pass at €90.80 since 1 January 2026 (Île-de-France Mobilités) (checked 14/10/2026).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do you save working from home 3 days a week?

With a 24 km car commute at €11.50 per 100 km, €35 of monthly parking and a €14 office lunch versus €4.50 at home, the tool finds €17.54 per day, about €2,315 a year over 132 days. By public transport with a half-refunded Navigo pass, the saving falls to €1,373, because the pass is still paid for the 2 office days.

How much is the tax-free French remote-work allowance in 2026?

Without a collective agreement, the allowance is exempt from contributions up to €2.70 per remote day, capped at €59.40 per month. With a collective agreement the limits rise to €3.30 per day and €72.60 per month (2026 scale).

Does a French employer have to refund the transit pass?

Yes, the employer pays at least 50% of public transport passes (French Labour Code, art. R3261-1). For a €90.80 Navigo pass in 2026, €45.40 a month remains for you. The tool only counts it as saved when you work fully remote, at €45.40 ÷ 21.65 working days = €2.10 a day.

How does the tool estimate the CO₂ avoided?

It multiplies the kilometres not driven by 0.135 kg of CO₂ per km by car or 0.015 kg by public transport. Over 132 days and a 48 km round trip that is 6,336 km and 855 kg by car. These factors are indicative and were not checked against ADEME data.

Is this tool really free?

Yes, all tools on Kristools are 100% free and accessible without registration.

Is my data protected?

Yes. All processing is performed directly and securely inside your browser. No personal data is sent to our servers.