The real cost, before you commit

A car or a home costs far more than its sticker price — the real number shows up over years of payments, taxes, depreciation, and upkeep. The Full Cost works that number out from sourced data and arithmetic you can check, with calculators, comparisons, and cost guides for each.

Every figure comes from a primary source — including AAA, NAHB, Fannie Mae, the IRS, and the EIA — cited so you can check it; here's how we work.