[category]
[title]
Remember the wild era when everybody was forced to work from home? For many Australians, it completely overhauled the way we worked. No commute, more flexibility and a better work/life balance made remote work a great option for busy households. Even now, as some companies push for more days at the office, working from home is a big drawcard for employees juggling family, appointments and everyday life. But while WFH can save you money on fuel and public transport, you have to keep in mind those rising electricity bills.
New research from Compare the Market looked at whether Australians still come out ahead financially when working remotely. The study compared the average daily cost of running a home office – think a laptop, Wi-Fi, lighting, phone charging, plus those multiple (yet essential) cups of coffee over an eight-hour work day – against costs like petrol prices, commute distances and public transport fares when travelling to work. They then calculated the monthly savings over 22 workdays per month, and here are the results.
Sydney came out on top for WFH savings. With pricey public transport fares and commuting costs, Sydneysiders could save almost $150 a month by working remotely, with the average daily home cost sitting at just 46 cents. Melbourne followed closely behind, with workers saving around $143 per month. Despite high driving costs, the average daily cost of working from home was only 39 cents.
Coming in third was Newcastle, where remote workers could save more than 93 per cent on commuting costs by swapping the daily drive for a home setup. While commuting costs are lower than in Sydney or Melbourne, Perth came in fourth, where working from home still saves locals around $100 a month. Canberra rounded out the top five, with remote workers avoiding hefty driving costs and saving more than 90 per cent on monthly commuting expenses.
The report also found that public transport in cities like Brisbane and the Gold Coast makes commuting less expensive than in cities like Sydney.
Our tips to make working from home even more cost-effective: switch off devices and unplug them when you’re done for the day, use energy-saving settings if possible and compare electricity plans to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.