Office Attendance Costs Averaged $6,736 for U.S. Workers
Rising expenses for commuting and daily habits are forcing employers to consider the real financial impact of office mandates.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Remote Work
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A new study by Resume.io reveals that U.S. office workers spend an average of $6,736 annually on work-related costs. This financial burden is driven by commuting, food, and beverage expenses as return-to-office mandates have become more prevalent.
Why it matters
Rising costs impact employee retention and compensation expectations, as 53.2 percent of workers report an increase in office-related spending over the past 12 months. Companies are navigating a labor market where commuting and daily expenses are significant factors in employee engagement and salary pressure.
The average U.S. office worker spends $2,751 on annual commuting costs and $2,598 on food and coffee. These figures are calculated from a survey of 1,000 workers across 36 metropolitan areas, where expenses have risen for over half of all respondents in the past year.
The players
Resume.io
An online career development platform that produces research and tools for job seekers.
The details
The financial strain of office attendance is unevenly distributed across the U.S. geography, with Austin workers paying the highest annual average at $7,424 and facing average commutes of 33.4 miles each way. Researchers utilized federal data on wages, fuel, and local pricing to determine that workers lose 184 hours annually to commuting. This daily overhead, coupled with preparation time that adds 43.4 minutes to office days, creates a tangible disparity between remote and in-office work models.
Timeline
53.2 percent of workers reported increased office costs over the past 12 months.
Market Landscape
This data quantifies the friction inherent in the post-2020 shift to hybrid work as employers finalize permanent policies. It reflects an ongoing trend where regional cost-of-living differences directly influence the viability of office-based operating models.
Business owners should assess whether office attendance mandates align with current compensation packages as commuting costs continue to rise. Expect increased pressure on wage discussions in regions where office costs significantly outpace local averages.
The takeaway
The true cost of office attendance is a rising variable in employee retention and operational planning. Operators should track the correlation between local commuting cost increases and turnover to determine if current RTO policies remain sustainable.
Further reading
For more on evolving workforce dynamics, see our analysis of Remote Work.
Live Poll
Do you feel the personal costs of returning to an office outweigh the benefits of work?
