Total Cost Comparison
Compare two options over the same period. Include the initial payment, prepaid recurring charges, other monthly running costs, and known end costs. Start with a period of 1–120 months.
How this calculation works
The model assumes a new service starts now. A recurring payment is made at the start, then every one, three, or twelve months. Charges exactly at the end of the selected period are excluded.
An annual charge is paid once over 6 or 12 months, and twice over 13 months. It is not reduced to a half-price bill when the horizon is six months. A zero recurring amount produces zero charges.
Average per month is the total divided by the selected horizon. It is a comparison figure, not a monthly bill or a permanent break-even promise.
A worked example
Hypothetical: A costs $300 upfront and $10 each month; B costs $100 upfront and $30 each month. Over twelve months, A is $420 and B is $460. Over ten months, both total $400.
What this estimate does not include
- Existing prepaid balances, refunds, tax rates, borrowing interest, inflation, residual value, future prices, and unknown contract charges are not predicted.
- Add known applicable charges yourself and avoid counting the same item twice.
- A lower modeled cost does not establish quality, durability, reliability, or suitability.
Your numbers stay here.
Inputs exist only in this page’s memory. They are not sent to a server, stored, or added to the URL. Refreshing the page clears them. Calculating does not contact a merchant.
Method context: FTC: compare costs and terms when shopping online. The annualization and time-horizon conventions are the site’s stated model assumptions.