Time Poverty
$18/hr × 8h ÷ (8 + 2.5h transit) = $12.57/hr real.
Effective hourly wage after transit time and transit cost eat into shift earnings.
Transit is uncompensated labor that still commits your time. Dividing net earnings over shift + transit hours gives the honest rate.
Part of: Saving & Spending Calculators
Quick answer
Effective hourly wage after transit time and transit cost eat into shift earnings.
Key points
- ▸ Real wage = (hourly × shift − transit cost) ÷ (shift + transit hours).
- ▸ Day budget assumes 8h sleep + 2h prep; remaining = discretionary.
- ▸ A 2.5h round-trip commute drops an $18/hr job to $12.57/hr real.
- ▸ Works for gig too: fold miles into transit cost.
Examples
- $18/hr, 8h shift, 2.5h transit, $12 gas($144 − $12) ÷ 10.5 = $12.57/hr real. 30% leak.
- $22/hr, 8h, 1h transit, $5($176 − $5) ÷ 9 = $19.00/hr real. 14% leak.
When to use which tool
- Time PovertyMain tool — time-leak chart.Real hourly wage after transit time (uncompensated labor) and transit cost eat into shift earnings.
- Minimum Viable RateFor the self-employed counterpart.The absolute minimum hourly rate to match a corporate salary after self-employment tax, benefits, and non-billable time.
- Asset LiquidatorFor gig work.Compare gig earnings with the estimated vehicle wear created by the miles driven.
- Stability CoefficientIf considering moving closer for higher rent.What percent of your labor pays for the sanity premium of living alone vs with a roommate? Peace-vs-capital slider.
Related
- Time PovertyReal hourly wage after transit time (uncompensated labor) and transit cost eat into shift earnings.
- Minimum Viable RateThe absolute minimum hourly rate to match a corporate salary after self-employment tax, benefits, and non-billable time.
- Asset LiquidatorCompare gig earnings with the estimated vehicle wear created by the miles driven.
- Gig Net FloorWhat DoorDash or Uber actually pays after IRS mileage depreciation — real hourly vs the minimum wage floor.
Frequently asked questions
› Shouldn't employers pay for commute? Trust & accuracy
Most don't in the US. This tool quantifies what they offload.
› Does WFH eliminate the leak?
Mostly — small residual from commute-equivalent prep still applies.
› How should I use this guide with a Kefiw tool? How-to
Use the guide as the plan and the linked Kefiw tool as the check. Read the steps first, try the move manually, then use the tool to compare outputs, catch edge cases, and decide whether the result actually fits your task.
› What mistake do tool guides help avoid? Troubleshooting
Tool guides help avoid using a utility mechanically without understanding what you are trying to accomplish. Most word, writing, and text utilities are fast, but speed can hide context mistakes. Know whether you are solving a puzzle, cleaning copy, drafting a line, or checking a rule.
› Can a tool guide help me learn the skill? How-to
A tool guide can help you learn if you pause before accepting the output and ask why it worked. Compare your first guess with the tool result, look for the rule or pattern, and repeat that review. Passive copying solves one task; active review builds the skill.