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Calconomics

Lifetime Cost of a Habit Calculator

Small daily spends add up to startling numbers. Enter the cost, how often, and over how many years to see the total — plus what it could have grown to if you'd invested it instead.

The habit

$
yrs
%/yr
Total spent
$31,200
Invested instead, it'd be
$57,386
Cost per year
$1,560
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✓ Includes the full toolkit. One purchase — this calculator already does everything these do, no add-ons: Hours of Your Life Calculator

How it's calculated

Our methodology & 2026 data sources →

Frequently asked questions

Is this just the 'latte factor'?
It's that idea made rigorous — and it works for any recurring habit, not just coffee, including the opportunity cost of investing instead.
What return should I use?
A long-run diversified portfolio is often modeled around 6–7% real; lower it to be conservative.

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