Cycling vs. Driving: A Cost-Per-Kilometer Showdown

A Simple Question, a Complex Answer

“Cycling is cheaper than driving”—almost everyone agrees with this statement. But how much cheaper exactly? If we factor in all the visible and hidden costs, how big is the gap per kilometer?

Today, we’re doing a serious calculation, laying out the per-kilometer costs of a bicycle and a car side by side. You’ll find that the gap is more staggering than you might imagine.

The True Cost of a Car

Most people only count fuel costs when calculating driving expenses. But the true cost of a car goes far beyond that. Let’s take a common domestic midsize sedan as an example, assuming a new car price of NT$800,000, used for ten years with 15,000 km driven annually.

Fixed Costs (Paid Whether You Drive or Not)

Item	Annual Cost	Notes
Depreciation	NT$60,000	Residual value after ten years approx. NT$200,000
License tax	NT$11,230	1.8L engine
Fuel tax	NT$4,800	1.8L engine
Compulsory insurance	NT$2,400	Basic premium
Voluntary insurance (hull + third-party)	NT$15,000	Varies by vehicle age and coverage
Parking space	NT$60,000	Monthly rent NT$5,000, varies greatly by region
Auto loan interest	NT$12,000	Assuming a NT$600,000 loan at 3% interest
Fixed Costs Subtotal	NT$165,430

Variable Costs (The More You Drive, the More You Pay)

Item	Annual Cost	Notes
Fuel	NT$45,000	Fuel economy 12km/L, gas price NT$30/L, 15,000 km annually
Parking fees (casual)	NT$12,000	Average NT$1,000 per month
Maintenance and repairs	NT$15,000	Routine servicing + tires + consumables
Car wash	NT$3,600	Once a month at NT$300
Toll fees (ETC)	NT$6,000	Varies by usage frequency
Traffic fines	NT$2,000	Average estimate
Variable Costs Subtotal	NT$83,600

Total Cost of a Car

• Total annual cost: NT$249,030
• Monthly cost: NT$20,753
• Cost per kilometer: NT$16.60

That’s right—when you factor in all the costs, the true cost of driving is close to NT$17 per kilometer. This figure is far higher than what most people intuitively expect.

The True Cost of a Bicycle

Similarly, we need to account for all the costs of a bicycle. Let’s take a mid-range road bike priced at NT$40,000 as an example, assuming five years of use with 5,000 km ridden annually.

Fixed Costs

Item	Annual Cost	Notes
Depreciation	NT$6,000	Residual value after five years approx. NT$10,000
Insurance	NT$3,000	Accident insurance (recommended whether you ride or not)
Fixed Costs Subtotal	NT$9,000

Variable Costs

Item	Annual Cost	Notes
Tires	NT$2,000	Replacing one pair annually
Chain	NT$600	Replacing once or twice a year
Brake pads	NT$500	Varies by intensity of use
Maintenance consumables (lube, cables, etc.)	NT$800
Shop labor for servicing	NT$2,000	Two major overhauls per year
Inner tubes / puncture repair	NT$500
Handlebar tape	NT$400	Replaced once a year
Variable Costs Subtotal	NT$6,800

Gear Amortization

Item	Annual Amortization	Notes
Helmet	NT$500	NT$1,500 / three years
Cycling jersey and shorts	NT$2,000	Purchased annually
Lights	NT$300	NT$900 / three years
Other accessories	NT$1,000	Gloves, glasses, bottles, etc.
Gear Amortization Subtotal	NT$3,800

Total Cost of a Bicycle

• Total annual cost: NT$19,600
• Monthly cost: NT$1,633
• Cost per kilometer: NT$3.92

Cost Comparison Summary

Metric	Car	Bicycle	Gap
Total annual cost	NT$249,030	NT$19,600	12.7x
Monthly cost	NT$20,753	NT$1,633	12.7x
Cost per kilometer	NT$16.60	NT$3.92	4.2x

Even with the most conservative estimates, the cost per kilometer of driving is more than four times that of cycling. Looking at total annual expenditure, the gap is nearly thirteen times.

If You Replace Part of Your Commute with Cycling

Let’s say your commute is 10 km one way, five days a week, about 250 working days a year:

• Annual commuting distance: 10km x 2 (round trip) x 250 days = 5,000 km
• Cost of commuting by car: 5,000 x NT$16.60 = NT$83,000
• Cost of commuting by bike: 5,000 x NT$3.92 = NT$19,600
• Annual savings: NT$63,400

You’d save more than NT$60,000 every year. Over five years, that’s over NT$300,000—enough to buy a very decent bike, or to invest, travel, or treat yourself.

Value Beyond Money

The calculations above only cover direct monetary costs, but replacing driving with cycling also brings many added values that are hard to quantify:

Health Benefits

Commuting by bike every day is equivalent to a daily session of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Research shows that regular bike commuting can:

• Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 46%
• Reduce the risk of cancer by 45%
• Reduce all-cause mortality by 41%

If we also factor in the value of saved medical expenses and healthy life years, the economic benefits of cycling become even more striking. A UK study estimated that for every kilometer ridden, the health benefit value to society as a whole is about £0.5 (approximately NT$20).

Time Costs

In congested urban traffic, a 10 km commute by car can take 30–50 minutes (including finding parking), while cycling only takes 25–35 minutes. In other words, cycling might actually be faster—and the time is far more predictable.

Environmental Benefits

A car emits about 150–200 grams of CO2 per kilometer, while a bicycle’s carbon emissions are nearly zero. Based on an annual commute of 5,000 km, switching to cycling can reduce carbon emissions by about 750–1,000 kg per year.

Mental Health

People who commute by bike generally report higher job satisfaction and lower stress levels. The way you start and end your workday shifts from anxious frustration stuck in traffic to enjoying the ride in the breeze—this psychological transformation is priceless.

Practical Advice

Of course, a bicycle cannot completely replace a car in every situation. Here are some practical suggestions:

Conditions Suitable for Bike Commuting

• One-way distance within 15 km
• Route has safe bike lanes or alternative routes with lighter traffic
• Workplace has facilities for parking and changing clothes
• Weather conditions are acceptable most of the time

Hybrid Mode

The most practical approach may not be giving up the car entirely, but rather adopting a hybrid mode: bike to work on good-weather days, and drive on rainy days or when there are special needs. Even riding just two to three days a week still yields considerable savings and health benefits.

Electric-Assist Bicycles

If the commuting distance is longer or the route has climbs, an electric-assist bicycle is a good option. Although the purchase cost is higher (NT$40,000-100,000), the per-kilometer cost is still far lower than driving, and it significantly lowers the physical effort required for riding.

Conclusion

Numbers don’t lie. When we lay out all the costs, the economic advantage of cycling is overwhelming. Add to that the added value of health, environmental, and psychological benefits, and riding isn’t just a money-saving choice—it’s a better choice for both yourself and the planet.

Of course, everyone’s living conditions and needs differ, and not everyone can fully replace a car with a bicycle. But at least, the next time you hesitate about whether to drive out, consider this: could this trip be done by bike instead? Your wallet and your body will thank you.

Related Reading

• Tax Benefits and Subsidies for Bike Commuting: Money-Saving Avenues You Didn’t Know About
• Changes After a Year of Bike Commuting: A Real Record of Health, Wallet, and Quality of Life
• Cycling vs. Driving: Real Carbon Footprint Data to Make You Rethink Your Commute
• The Complete Guide to Bike Commuting: Replacing Driving to Work with Cycling