Worked example
A £4,000 take-home increase can shrink quickly if the new role adds several office days, travel expenses and hundreds of commuting hours each year.
Frequently asked questions
Why ask for a take-home increase?
Tax depends on individual circumstances. Using the amount you actually expect to keep avoids hard-coding tax assumptions into the tool.
Do I have to put a value on my time?
No. Enter £0 if you only want the cash comparison.
How to compare a pay rise with a longer commute
Start with the annual increase you realistically expect to keep after deductions, then add only the commuting that changes because of the new role. If you currently travel twice a week and the new job requires four office days, enter the cost and time for the two additional journeys rather than the whole commute. This keeps the comparison focused on the decision in front of you.
The personal-time value is deliberately optional. Some people want a pure cash comparison; others view an extra hour in traffic as a meaningful cost. Setting a value does not imply that your free time literally has a market price. It simply gives you a consistent way to compare money gained with time given up.
Before deciding, also consider
- parking, tolls, season tickets and future fuel costs;
- whether the commute changes childcare or care arrangements;
- pension, bonus and progression differences between the roles;
- how reliable the required office pattern is likely to be.
A positive result means the pay increase is larger than the extra travel costs and the value you assigned to additional commuting time. It is a planning comparison, not a recommendation to accept or reject a role.