Hi everyone! I have a question about how to calculate the cost of commuting in weighing a job offer.
I was just (conditionally) offered a job, in my field, that sounds perfect for me. For the past year I have been working at a position that I fell into, very far outside the field I wanted to work in, and considerably underpaid for what I had hoped to make after finishing my Ph.D. I dislike almost every aspect of my current job except one: my awesome 6 mile bike commute each morning and afternoon.
I'm super excited about the new job offer in all respects except one: the 26.6 mile highway commute. Ugh. I don't know if I can go back to being a daily car user.
Obviously the sensible thing to do would be to move closer to the new job, though I couldn't do that until at least December when my lease is up, and housing costs in the area around the new workplace are outrageous. Plus there is my partner to consider. Any distance we shorten my commute by would lengthen hers an equal amount.
I've looked at MMMs "true cost of commuting" post. I'm waiting for the numbers on the job offer, but I'm trying to do the math here to figure out how the commute would financially impact me. According to MMM's calculations, the "true cost of commuting" is close to $800/year per mile added to the commute, and I live about 27 miles away from the new job (I'm not counting my current 6 mile commute, since I only bike). If I use MMM's calculations as an approximation, I need to be making at least $21,600 more at my new job to "justify" the commute. That's a lot of money to me, and not money I necessarily want to "spend" on my commute, though it is entirely possible my offer will be in this range (above what I'm making now).
Here's the thing, do I go from a job I hate with a commute I love to a job I love with a commute I hate? The job is at least a stepping stone in this "career" puzzle. But the bike commute has been a huge improvement in general lifestyle.
What do you MMMers think? I'm especially interested to hear from fellow bike commuters. What would you do if you were faced with a decision like this? How important is your commute to you?
FYI: My car is a 1977 Mercedes Benz 240 Diesel with about 110,000 miles on it and in great condition. I get about 30 mpg. (If I became a daily car commuter though, I might look at trying to find something less sexy and more practical.)