WorthCalc
💸 Break-even, total cost, and affordability, worked in the open

Transparent calculators for real money decisions

Most money questions have a threshold hiding in them: the spend where a fee pays for itself, the year where buying beats renting, the number of uses that makes a purchase worth it. WorthCalc finds that threshold and shows the arithmetic that produced it.

What WorthCalc is for

A number you cannot check is not much better than a guess. These three rules decide what gets published here.

The formula is on the page

Every calculator states the arithmetic it runs and shows the intermediate figures, so you can verify the result rather than trust it.

The assumptions are yours to change

Defaults are editable examples, never market averages or quotes. Replace them with your own bill, contract, statement or offer.

The limits are written down

Each page names what it excludes — taxes, eligibility rules, contract terms — and which input would reverse the conclusion.

Four decisions WorthCalc covers in depth

Each area pairs the calculators that produce a number with the guides that explain what the number means.

Housing & affordability

Rent or buy, what you can carry, and what a mortgage actually costs over the years you hold it.

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Debt & credit

True APR behind "0%" offers, payoff order, card fees, and how much debt your income supports.

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Everyday break-even

Cost per use, repair or replace, bulk buying, and the running cost of the things you already own.

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Most-used calculators

Ten to start with. The full catalogue, grouped by topic, is on the calculator directory.

Rent vs Buy Calculator

Weigh mortgage, appreciation, and invested down payment against renting.

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Commute Cost Calculator

Compare car, transit, rideshare, and bike costs per month, including your time.

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EV vs Gas Car TCO Calculator

Compare total cost of ownership - purchase, energy, maintenance - and the break-even year.

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Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator

Calculate front-end and back-end debt-to-income ratios, compare against FHA/VA/conventional benchmarks, and test how paying off one debt changes the result.

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Browse the whole library

Two directories, both grouped by topic: one for the calculators, one for the written guides behind them.

More topics: Subscriptions & memberships Income, savings & growth

Start with your language and the decision you want to check; these links are part of the page content.

Popular decision guides

Use the deeper guides when one calculator is not enough. Each one exposes its formula, worked example, sensitivity cases, limitations, and source trail.

EV versus gas total cost

Build the comparison from purchase, energy, insurance, maintenance, incentives, and resale.

Read guide →

Annual-fee card break-even

Test renewal value against the no-fee card you could actually use, not against zero rewards.

Read guide →

Pay raise versus inflation

Use matching CPI periods to distinguish a nominal raise from a real purchasing-power change.

Read guide →

Every guide, grouped by topic →

Method, sources, and limits

Method

Each calculator applies a visible formula to the values you enter, compares alternatives over the same period, and returns a break-even threshold, total cost, or ratio. Editable defaults are examples, not quotes or recommendations.

What the calculators include

A result includes only the inputs and categories named on that calculator. It does not automatically include every tax, fee, eligibility or underwriting rule, reward exclusion, route condition, employer benefit, financing term, or personal risk.

A decision process you can audit

A useful calculator shows what changes the answer instead of hiding a recommendation behind one default.

  1. Start with the contract, bill, quote, or usage history—not a promotional headline.
  2. Compare alternatives over the same period and keep recoverable value separate from true cost.
  3. Change the uncertain inputs until the result flips; a fragile answer needs more evidence.
  4. Confirm current prices, taxes, eligibility, cancellation rules, and professional advice where the stakes require it.

Data sources

Start with your own current contract, statement, bill, quote, paystub, and provider terms. The calculation frameworks link to these durable public sources already used by the site's supporting guides:

Homepage method last reviewed:

WorthCalc provides general educational estimates. This is not financial advice, and no result predicts approval, guarantees savings, or replaces current terms or qualified professional advice.

Common questions about WorthCalc

Are WorthCalc results financial advice?
No. The results are general informational estimates only. For major financial, tax, legal, debt, housing, or investment decisions, consult a qualified professional who can review your full situation.
Do the calculators send my numbers to a server?
No. The calculators run in your browser. Some tools may use browser localStorage so your own device can remember values, but the inputs are not uploaded to WorthCalc.
Why can my result differ from a real bill or offer?
Real-world prices, taxes, fees, interest rates, rewards rules, usage patterns, and promotional terms can change. Treat the output as a decision aid and confirm current terms with the provider.
Is WorthCalc free to use?
Yes. The calculators are free and do not require registration. The site may be supported by advertising, as explained in the privacy policy.