What holidays really cost over time.

The advertised holiday price is only part of the cost. Lost income during time off (for freelancers and commission-based workers), pre-trip spending on gear and clothes, and post-trip recovery costs add up. This calculator shows true annual holiday cost.

Two 2,500 trips per year with 500 lost income per trip totals 6,000 annual true cost vs 5,000 cash cost. Over 10 years, true total is 60,000 vs 50,000. The 10,000 gap reflects opportunity costs that don't appear on the booking invoice.

The tool isn't arguing against holidays - rest and experiences have real value. It's making the complete financial picture visible so decisions are informed. For salaried employees with paid leave, lost income is zero and cash cost equals true cost. For freelancers and self-employed, the gap is often substantial.

Run it with sensible defaults

Using cost per trip of 2,500, trips per year of 2, lost income per trip of 500, time horizon of 10, the calculation works out to 6,000.00. Nudge the inputs toward your own situation and the output recalculates instantly. The defaults are meant as a starting point, not a recommendation.

The levers in this calculation

The inputs — Cost per Trip, Trips per Year, Lost Income per Trip, and Time Horizon — do not pull with equal force. Frequency and unit price pull the total in different directions. The biggest surprise for most people is how small recurring amounts compound into large annual figures — that's where this calculation earns its keep.

How the math works

Annual cash = trip cost × trips per year. Annual lost income = lost income per trip × trips per year. Annual true = cash + lost income. The working is transparent — you can verify every step yourself in the formula section below. No black box, no opaque "proprietary model".

Why see the number at all

Small recurring spending is invisible by design — every individual transaction is forgettable. Compounded over years, the total often surprises. Seeing the figure doesn't mean you typically need to cut the spending; it just makes the trade-off conscious.

What this doesn't capture

The tool prices the money; it can't weigh the enjoyment. A coffee habit, gym membership, or streaming bundle might cost what the math says but deliver value that's harder to quantify. Use the number to make the trade-off visible — the decision is yours.