Part‑time vs full‑time hourly pay
A part‑time role can sometimes leave you with more money and freedom per hour than a full‑time job. The key is to look at real hourly pay after rent, commute, kids, debt and "maintenance" costs. This guide shows you how to compare them using the Real Cost Simulator.
1. Set up your full‑time scenario
First, enter your current or potential full‑time role:
- Monthly income (or gross if you only know the salary)
- Actual working hours per week
- Commute time and transport mode
- Rent, childcare, debt and lifestyle costs
Note your leftover money per month and real hourly rate from the simulator.
2. Clone it as a part‑time variant
Now tweak the same setup as if you moved to part‑time:
- Reduce your weekly hours
- Cut commute days if you'd travel less often
- Adjust income down based on what the employer is offering
- See if any costs fall – e.g. less childcare, fewer takeaway dinners, less need for "time trade" spending
3. Compare real hourly pay and leftover
The simulator shows you two crucial numbers for each setup:
- How much you keep per month after all costs
- How much you keep per hour of life spent working and commuting
This can reveal that a modest pay cut for fewer hours leaves you better off per hour and with more free time.