MileCost
Cost Per Mile Calculator
Total cost ÷ miles driven — for fuel, rentals, or fleet tracking.
Cost per mile for common driving expenses
Every row is a total dollar amount divided by the miles it covered, which is exactly what the calculator does. Figures are US dollars at illustrative 2026 fuel and rental prices, rounded to the cent the way the tool displays them.
| Scenario | Total cost | Miles driven | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| EV home charging, one month | $58 | 1,000 | $0.06 |
| Tank of gas, compact car | $45 | 380 | $0.12 |
| Tank of gas, midsize sedan | $55 | 400 | $0.14 |
| Cross-country road trip fuel | $410 | 2,800 | $0.15 |
| Month of commuting fuel | $180 | 1,000 | $0.18 |
| Tank of gas, full-size pickup | $95 | 400 | $0.24 |
| Weekend rental car, all in | $220 | 480 | $0.46 |
| Full year of ownership, all costs | $9,000 | 15,000 | $0.60 |
| IRS standard mileage reimbursement | $670 | 1,000 | $0.67 |
| 12-mile rideshare fare | $35 | 12 | $2.92 |
The number swings entirely on which costs you count. Fuel alone runs roughly 6 to 25 cents a mile depending on the vehicle; add depreciation, insurance, maintenance and tires and a typical car lands near 60 to 70 cents, which is what the IRS standard mileage rate is designed to cover. These rows are illustrative only. Use your own receipts and odometer readings, and note that spreading a fixed cost such as insurance over more miles lowers the per-mile figure without lowering the bill.
A universal ratio, not just for fuel
Dividing any total cost by total distance works whether you're tracking gas, a rideshare fare, a rental car bill, or fleet vehicle expenses — the same simple ratio applies regardless of what's driving the cost.
Why it's the fairest way to compare options
A cheaper total trip cost doesn't always mean better value if it also covers fewer miles — cost per mile normalizes different trips or vehicles so you're comparing apples to apples.
Frequently asked questions
My Uber was $35 for a 12-mile trip — what's the cost per mile?
$2.92 per mile. For comparison, driving your own car at 30 MPG and $3.50/gal costs about $0.12/mile in fuel alone (or roughly $0.50-0.65/mile including depreciation, insurance, and maintenance according to AAA).
What's the IRS standard mileage rate?
The IRS rate is updated annually (67 cents per mile for 2024 business use). It's meant to cover all vehicle costs — fuel, depreciation, insurance, maintenance, and tires. Your actual cost per mile may be higher or lower.
How is this different from the MPG calculator?
The MPG calculator measures fuel efficiency only. Cost per mile is a broader ratio — it can include fuel, tolls, parking, maintenance, or any cost divided by miles driven. MPG is one component that feeds into your total cost per mile.
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OpenLast updated: September 6, 2026