The true cost of a habit. See what it really adds up to.
The coffee, the lunches out, the rideshares. Add up your small habits and see what they cost over a year, five years, ten. Then see what the same money could become if you invested it instead. No signup, and nothing leaves your device.
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Add your habits
Tap to add. Then edit the amount or how often to match your life.
Add a habit above to see what it really costs over time.
What is the latte factor?
The latte factor is the idea that small, routine purchases add up to a surprising amount over time. A coffee on the way to work does not feel like a financial decision. Five days a week for ten years, it is one of the bigger ones you will make. The point is not to never buy coffee. It is to see the real number and decide on purpose.
How to use this calculator
Tap a habit to add it, then edit the cost and how many times a week it happens. The total shows what your habits cost in a year, in five years and in ten. The last line shows what the same money could grow to if you invested it instead, using a 7 percent average annual return as a common estimate. It is a what if, not advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the latte factor?
It is the idea, coined by David Bach, that small daily purchases like a coffee quietly add up to a large sum over the years. This calculator shows your own version of it with real numbers.
How much does a daily coffee cost per year?
A 6 dollar coffee five days a week is about 1,560 dollars a year. Over ten years that is 15,600 dollars spent, or more than 22,000 dollars if you had invested it instead. Enter your own numbers above to see yours.
Is this calculator free?
Yes. It is completely free, runs entirely in your browser, and never asks for your email or a signup. Nothing you type leaves your device.
What investment return do you assume?
We assume a 7 percent average annual return, compounded monthly. That is a common long run estimate for the US stock market, not a promise. Real returns vary and markets go up and down.
How can I cut back without feeling deprived?
You do not have to quit everything. Pick the one or two habits with the biggest yearly number and keep the rest. The total above usually makes the obvious cut clear.