The hidden price tag: what your spending really costs
A £25,000 car does not just cost £25,000. Opportunity cost reveals what else your money could have done—and helps you decide whether the purchase is still worth it.
Evaluate · Calculator 03
What could this purchase really cost you?
Bring together the purchase price, finance, ownership costs, resale value and foregone growth.
1 Enter your figures2 Review assumptions3 Explore the result
Your figures
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Estimated economic cost
£19,449£17,190 in today’s purchasing power over 5 years.What this result means
The purchase is estimated to use £19,449 of wealth by the end of the period. This is broader than cash spent: it includes the growth your payments could have earned elsewhere, then subtracts the resale proceeds.
Net cash cost is £15,200. It adds the purchase or finance payments, ownership costs and any finance balance still due when you sell, then subtracts the net resale value.
£12,000purchase and finance+£7,200ownership costs−£4,000resale proceeds=£15,200net cash cost
Purchase and finance£12,000Ownership£7,200Foregone growth£4,249
Net cash cost£15,200
Monthly equivalent£287
Cost per use£36
Assumptions used
- Ownership costs occur evenly through the holding period.
- The resale figure is received at the end and is stated after selling costs.
- Foregone growth applies your return assumption to timed cash outflows.
- Tax and product-specific finance charges are included only if entered.
Economic cost combines cash spent with the value that money could have had elsewhere. It is an illustration, not a judgement about whether the purchase is worthwhile.