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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Assumptions & Methodology | Boston Transportation Cost</title>
<meta charset="utf-8">
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<style>
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BETA
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<a href="our_team.html" style="color:#091f2f;text-decoration:underline;">Learn more</a>
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<img src="images/calculator.jpg" alt="hero image" class="hros--img">
<div class="hros-c">
<div class="hros-i hros-i--l">
<span></span>guide<span></span>
</div>
<h1 class="hros-t hros-t--l">
Assumptions & Methodology
</h1>
<div class="hros-i hros-i--l hros-st--w">
How we calculate costs for the Boston Transportation Cost Calculator
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<p><strong>This calculator is designed to estimate the <em>annual cost of owning and using a personal vehicle in Boston</em>, and to compare it with alternative travel options.</strong> The numbers below are <em>averages</em>, not guarantees. Actual costs vary by vehicle, neighborhood, driving habits, and market conditions. <strong>We only use variable costs (dependent on usage) of owning a car and do not consider the upfront cost of buying a car.</strong></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="b b--fw">
<div class="b-c">
<h2>Car Ownership Costs (Annual)</h2>
<table class="assumptions-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Variable</th>
<th>Assumption</th>
<th>Source</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Average gas price (MA)</td>
<td>$2.90 per gallon</td>
<td>U.S. Energy Information Admin.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average fuel efficiency</td>
<td>25 miles per gallon</td>
<td>EPA average for mid-size vehicles</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cost per mile</td>
<td>$0.116 per mile</td>
<td>Calculated: ($2.90 ÷ 25 MPG)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parking rent</td>
<td>$250 per month</td>
<td>Boston average for off-street parking</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Maintenance cost</td>
<td>$1,000 per year</td>
<td>Industry average: $1,000–$1,200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Insurance cost</td>
<td>$1,538 per year</td>
<td>Massachusetts average for Boston drivers</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
Sources: <a href="https://www.eia.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Energy Information Admin.</a>,
<a href="https://www.fueleconomy.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EPA Fuel Economy</a>,
Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner data
</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
</table>
<h2>Trip Categories & Frequency Assumptions</h2>
<p>We've organized typical trips into four categories. These frequencies below represent defaults for different user lifestyles. You can customize them in the calculator.</p>
<table class="frequency-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Trip Type</th>
<th>Student/<br>Professional</th>
<th>Couple<br>(no kids)</th>
<th>Family<br>(with kids)</th>
<th>Frequent<br>Trip-Goers</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Commute per week</strong></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Non-commute trips per week</strong></td>
<td>3</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Day trips per year</strong><br>(Salem, Concord, Cape Ann, Gloucester, etc.)</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Multi-day Trips per year</strong><br>(Cape Cod, New Hampshire, Vermont etc.)</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="note">
<strong>Note:</strong> The defaults above are illustrative starting points—use the calculator to override these values with your own trip estimates.
</div>
<h2>Cost Calculation Formulas</h2>
<div class="b-c" style="background: #f6f6f6; padding: 1.5rem; border-radius: 8px; margin: 1.5rem 0;">
<h3 style="color: #091f2f; margin-top: 0;">With a Car</h3>
<p style="font-family: 'Courier New', monospace; font-size: 1.1rem; background: #fff; padding: 1rem; border-radius: 4px; border-left: 4px solid #0b4b66;">
<strong>Total Annual Cost = Annual Fuel/Electricity Costs + Fixed Annual Costs</strong>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0;">
<strong>Annual Fuel/Electricity costs for non-car owners</strong> could be calculated at the <a href="https://afdc.energy.gov/calc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AFDC website</a>. For annual mileage, we assume 8.1 miles/commute, 7 miles/non-commute, 120 miles/day trip, and 295 miles/multi-day trip.
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0;">
<strong>Fixed costs</strong> include: parking (off-street: $250/month, on-street: free), insurance ($1,200/year), registration & inspection ($100/year), plus loan/lease costs.
</p>
</div>
<div class="b-c" style="background: #f6f6f6; padding: 1.5rem; border-radius: 8px; margin: 1.5rem 0;">
<h3 style="color: #091f2f; margin-top: 0;">Without a Car</h3>
<p style="font-family: 'Courier New', monospace; font-size: 1.1rem; background: #fff; padding: 1rem; border-radius: 4px; border-left: 4px solid #0b4b66;">
<strong>Total Annual Cost = (Public Transit Cost × Trips) + (Rideshare/Rental Cost × Trips)</strong>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0;">
Assumptions are shown below. <br><strong>MBTA cost:</strong> Commute and 75% of non-commute trips use MBTA at $2.4/per ride. If the total cost exceeds $90, the person buys a Charlie card at $90.<br><strong>Regional bus cost:</strong> Average day-trip bus costs $20.<br><strong>Rideshare cost:</strong> 25% of non-commute trips via rideshare @ $15/trip.<br><strong>Rental car cost:</strong> $40/day, assume 2 days for multi-day trips.
</p>
</div>
<h2>Limitations & Disclaimers</h2>
<ul style="line-height: 1.8;">
<li><strong>Averages, not guarantees:</strong> All numbers represent Boston-area averages. Your actual costs will vary based on vehicle type, insurance history, neighborhood, and personal driving habits.</li>
<!-- <li><strong>No upfront purchase cost:</strong> We exclude the depreciation on a car purchase, focusing only on annual operating and fixed costs.</li> -->
<li><strong>Public transit availability:</strong> This calculator assumes reasonable access to MBTA and regional bus services. Availability varies by neighborhood.</li>
<li><strong>Parking assumptions:</strong> We assume off-street parking at $250/month or free resident permit parking. Actual costs vary significantly by neighborhood.</li>
<li><strong>Household-level estimates:</strong> The defaults are for typical households. Your actual patterns may differ.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Questions or feedback?</strong> <a href="our_team.html">Contact our team</a> to suggest improvements to these assumptions.</p>
</div>
</div>
</article>
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