What does that actually cost per use?
Cost per use is the only honest way to compare a £200 coat worn daily with a £30 one worn twice.
80% of a bus fare
2 USD is more than 0 of the 7 references on this page.
Reference figures are measurements and are rounded; the unit conversion behind them is exact.
| Reference | Size | Yours ÷ theirs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| bus fare | 2.5 USD | 0.8× | |
| cup of coffee | 5 USD | 0.4× | |
| cinema ticket | 12 USD | 0.167× | |
| paperback book | 12 USD | 0.167× | |
| gym day pass | 15 USD | 0.133× | |
| streaming month | 15 USD | 0.133× | |
| takeaway meal | 20 USD | 0.1× |
Worth knowing
- A $300 coat worn 200 times costs $1.50 a wear — less than a bus fare. A $60 coat worn five times costs $12.
- Cost per use is the argument for buying well once, and the argument against buying anything you will not use often.
Frequently asked
How do I calculate cost per use?
Divide the total price, including any repairs, by the realistic number of uses over the item’s life. Then subtract whatever you would recover by reselling it.
Does cost per use apply to everything?
It works for durable goods and badly for anything bought for a single occasion, where the honest number is simply the price.