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Cost guide · MelbournePetrol's the easiest commute cost to ignore because it leaks out in $80 chunks every Sunday at the servo. Once you add it up across a year, it's the second-biggest variable cost in most household budgets. Here's the maths on a 30km Melbourne commute, solo vs shared.
Free · 18+ · ID-verified neighbours only
The maths
Assumes a standard sedan (~7.5 L/100km) at $2/L petrol, 220 working days per year, and round-trip distances. CBD parking estimated at $25/day if you drive the whole way in.
| Setup | Per round-trip fuel | Per week | Per year (each) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo driver | ~$9 | ~$45 | ~$2,300 |
| 1 driver + 1 rider | ~$4.50 each | ~$22.50 each | ~$1,150 each |
| 1 driver + 2 riders | ~$3 each | ~$15 each | ~$770 each |
| 1 driver + 3 riders | ~$2.25 each | ~$11.25 each | ~$575 each |
A solo 30km commuter pays roughly the same in petrol every year as a return flight to Europe. Splitting that with two neighbours is the difference between "expensive habit" and "rounding error".
The hidden costs
~$5,500/yr
Even at the cheaper end of $25/day, daily CBD parking adds another $5,500+ a year on top of fuel. Carpoolers usually meet at a station or shopping centre — no CBD parking required.
~$1,200/yr
Tyres, servicing, brake pads, depreciation. The ATO uses ~$0.85/km for tax claims; even a conservative $0.20/km adds up across 220 commutes a year.
~$0–8/day
The M1/Westgate is free, CityLink and EastLink aren't. If your commute crosses tolls, halving the trip count by carpooling halves the toll bill too.
How it works
Drivers list a trip they're already taking. The cost calculation is fuel-only, divided by people in the car. The driver doesn't profit.
No cash, no awkward maths at the end of the trip. The fuel share is calculated on the route automatically.
Every driver and rider is ID-verified before they can book or post. You see name, photo, area and rating.
Stations, shopping centres, park-and-rides — never home addresses, never zigzag detours through suburbs.
FAQ
For a typical 30km commute in a typical sedan at $2/L petrol, solo driving costs roughly $9 per round trip — about $2,300 a year over a standard work calendar. Carpooling with one passenger drops it to ~$1,150/year each. With two passengers, ~$770/year each. Add CBD parking ($25/day for 220 commute days = $5,500/year solo) and the savings compound further.
No — Ride Junto is cost-share, not a fare. Stripe handles the fuel split automatically based on the route, and there are no platform fees baked into your share. Drivers recover fuel only; they don't profit. That's what keeps it carpooling rather than rideshare.
No. Drivers post the days and times they're already commuting — many post Monday/Tuesday/Thursday matching the hybrid pattern. Riders book only the days they need.
Today's cost-share covers fuel only — the simplest, most transparent calculation. We're working through the legal framework to broaden it to general running costs and tolls down the track.
We're building toward a pilot launch now, prioritising the outer corridors where waitlist demand is highest. Register your postcode and we'll tell you when it goes live in your area.
Tell us your name, email, postcode, mobile and whether you're a driver or rider — we'll prioritise launch as your area's list grows.
Continue to waitlist signup →By joining you confirm you're 18 or over.
Further reading
City overview
Routes, corridors, and how the matching works for daily Melbourne commuters.
Read →Comparison
Drive vs train vs carpool — the real cost, time and reliability across each option.
Read →Suburb deep-dive
The Werribee → CBD corridor and how Wyndham residents are using it.
Read →