Pay & work guides
Is a higher-paying job worth a longer commute?
Compare the extra money left after the journey with the extra time it takes. A salary increase alone cannot tell you whether the move is worthwhile.
Compare take-home pay first
Estimate each role’s annual take-home using the same assumptions for tax, pension and other deductions where appropriate. Then subtract the annual costs of doing each job. Compare a full year with a full year, and use the actual number of days you expect to travel.
A £2,400 take-home increase
Suppose a new job leaves £2,400 more take-home per year before work costs. These are assumed net figures, not salary figures or a tax estimate.
- Additional travel and parking: £1,200 a year
- Additional childcare: £480 a year
- Money left from the increase: £2,400 − £1,200 − £480 = £720 a year, or £60 a month on average
Put the extra journey into hours
Use the change in the full daily return journey, not just one direction. An extra 30 minutes each way is an extra hour per commuting day.
For the example above, suppose the total return journey is 45 minutes longer on each of 220 commuting days:
45 ÷ 60 × 220 = 165 additional hours a year.
£720 ÷ 165 = £4.36 of extra money per extra commuting hour, rounded. This is a comparison ratio, not an hourly wage paid by the employer.
Find your own break-even point
The move needs £1,680 of extra annual take-home just to cover the additional costs in this example. If you personally value the 165 extra hours at £10 each, you would want another £1,650, giving a personal target of £3,330 extra take-home. The £10 is your choice, not an official rate.
If the new job also changes working hours, include that time difference too. A shorter working week can offset some extra travel.
Check what could change the answer
- Hybrid working: use realistic office days and check whether the arrangement is guaranteed.
- Travel spending: compare fares or fuel, parking and tolls; consider extra vehicle wear without counting it twice.
- Journey reliability: try a typical journey and a slower-day scenario.
- Time off: avoid assuming you commute during holidays or other days away from work.
- The role itself: weigh flexibility, progression, stability and how the journey affects home life.
Compare both offers
Enter each role in Compare Two Jobs. Review money after work costs and commuting time separately. The site’s headline real-life hourly value includes physical work and extra unpaid work, but excludes commuting and normal unpaid breaks. Use the time breakdown alongside it when deciding about a longer journey.
For help interpreting that figure, read how to calculate your real hourly wage.
Illustrative comparison using assumed take-home figures. Example arithmetic checked 12 September 2026.