A personal car is a useful asset in many ways, but its cost goes beyond the ticket price at the dealership: To estimate the average cost, take a Toyota Corolla, which would cost an Egyptian right now around EGP 350k cash for the mid-range variety, and EGP 400k on installments. Deciding on which payment method to go with just depends on whether you have the amount ready up-front or have a steady income to deduct from, but many people who opt for payment in installments forget to factor in running costs.

Bear with us as we crunch the numbers: Most cars on the market have a gas tank capacity that ranges from 45-60 liters, and runs on the EGP 9-per-liter 92-octane. Let’s assume a midpoint, and take 52.5 liters as our average tank capacity. Assuming you normally need to refuel around once a week and factor in anomalies like long road trips, this means gas would cost you EGP 2,360 a month. Now, let’s add the things you don’t think about: Parking fees, minor repairs, washing your car, and fines, which altogether bring the total running cost to the EGP 3k ballpark. There are also the less visible costs of depreciation (at 10% of the car’s value a year) and insurance (assuming you take out a policy). The final price tag? A nicely rounded EGP 6k a month.

Now let’s take a look at the alternative scenario: If more people used public transportation, it would lead to fewer cars on the road, fewer carbon emissions, and less noise pollution. That’s to say nothing of our favorite pastime: People-watching. If you were to opt for the metro instead of a car, you could purchase a daily EGP 10 ticket to ride through 35 stations, meaning a month would add up to EGP 300, if we’re assuming you’re commuting that much every single day. Getting to and from a metro station might require a cab, which would cost maybe EGP 20 per day, meaning EGP 600 per month. These are rough estimates, but opting for public transport is at most 25% of the cost of running a car.

Want to calculate your own personal car costs? This nifty calculator lets you type in the numbers and see just how much your car is costing you.