Everyday money and work sources and dates
Where the starting numbers for the calculators in this group come from, and the date we checked each one. They are examples, not quotes.
Sources by Calculator
Back to all sources and dates. Each table lists a calculator's starting numbers, source links and check dates.
Duplex utility split and submetering
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| NY State electric submetering regulations | 16 NYCRR Part 96 | New York Department of Public Service (DPS) & 16 NYCRR Part 96 | 2026-10-12 |
| Submeter equipment & install cost | $500 - $1,200 per unit | Leviton Submetering Solutions & E-Mon D-Mon Submeters | 2026-10-12 |
| Monthly meter reading & billing service | $0 to $7 / month | National Submetering and Utility Allocation Association (NSUAA) | 2026-10-12 |
| Tenant conservation after submetering | 15% (0% to 25% range) | National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) / AWWA Research Foundation National Submetering Study | 2026-10-12 |
| Splitting methods (RUBS) | Sq ft, occupants, bedrooms, equal | HUD Utility Billing in Multifamily Housing | 2026-10-12 |
| Rent-regulated apartments (DHCR) | Fact Sheet #1: Submetering | New York State Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR) | 2026-10-12 |
Subscription annual vs monthly
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription price | $15.00 / mo | Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI for Information Services | 2026-10-12 |
| Annual subscription price | $120.00 / yr | Example price set by this site, not a specific product; prices for these services are tracked in the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI | 2026-10-16 |
| Expected usage horizon | 12 months | One billing year; cancellation rules: Eighth Circuit vacates FTC click-to-cancel rule (Latham & Watkins, 2025) | 2026-10-16 |
| One-time setup or onboarding fee | $0.00 | CFPB Subscription and Junk Fee Report | 2026-10-12 |
| Early cancellation refund | $0.00 | California Automatic Renewal Law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17602) | 2026-10-12 |
| Savings return rate | 4.0% APY | FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps | 2026-10-16 |
Membership fee payback
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse club annual fee | $65/year | Costco: What is an Executive Membership? and Costco membership | 2026-10-16 |
| Sam's Club annual fee | $60/year ($120 Plus) | Sam's Club: Join | 2026-10-16 |
| Amazon Prime annual fee | $139/year | Amazon Prime | 2026-10-16 |
| Merchandise savings rate | 5.0% | Consumer Reports Warehouse Club Price Survey and USDA Economic Research Service | 2026-10-08 |
| Fuel station discount | $50/yr (500 gal at $0.10/gal off) | AAA Gas Prices Survey | 2026-10-08 |
| Annual grocery and supply spending | $3,000/yr | Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey | 2026-10-08 |
| Premium tier rewards rate | 2.0% | Costco Executive Rewards Terms and Sam's Club Plus | 2026-10-08 |
Automation software ROI
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaded employee hourly cost | $30.00/hour | Bureau of Labor Statistics Employer Costs for Employee Compensation | 2026-10-12 |
| Workflow automation software cost | $25.00/month | Zapier Pricing and Make.com Pricing | 2026-10-12 |
| Time value capture rate | 100% (with 50% sensitivity) | Harvard Business Review and McKinsey Global Institute Automation Research | 2026-10-16 |
Job offer vs commute
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle mileage expense rate | $0.76 / mile | IRS 2026 rate (from July 1): Internal Revenue Service Announcement 2026-11 (IR-2026-29) and https://www.irs.gov/irb/2026-29_irb | 2026-10-16 |
| Valuation of personal commute time | $25.00 / hour | US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Revised Departmental Guidance on Valuation of Travel Time in Economic Analysis | 2026-10-08 |
| Marginal tax rate | 30.00% | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax Brackets and Tax Foundation Marginal Income Tax Rates | 2026-10-08 |
| Annual working weeks | 50 weeks / year | Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) National Compensation Survey | 2026-10-08 |
| Automobile operating expenses | 22 to 26 cents / mile | AAA Your Driving Costs Study | 2026-10-08 |
Equipment rent vs buy
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tool and equipment rental rates | $75.00 / day | The Home Depot Tool Rental | 2026-10-08 |
| Commercial heavy equipment rental rates | $250 to $450 / day | Sunbelt Rentals and United Rentals | 2026-10-08 |
| Equipment resale retention and depreciation | 40.0% at 3 years | Equipment Trader and MachineryTrader | 2026-10-08 |
| Sales tax rate | 7.53% | Tax Foundation State and Local Sales Tax Rates 2026 | 2026-10-08 |
| Annual maintenance and consumable costs | 5.0% of equipment price / year | American Rental Association (ARA) Cost of Ownership Guidelines | 2026-10-08 |
Childcare vs second income
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second earner gross salary | $62,000/yr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers | 2026-10-13 |
| Combined marginal tax rate | 27% (22% federal + 5% state) | Internal Revenue Service, tax year 2026 inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and Tax Foundation State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 | 2026-10-16 |
| FICA payroll tax rate | 7.65% | Internal Revenue Service Topic 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates | 2026-10-16 |
| Monthly childcare cost | $1,850/mo | Child Care Aware of America Child Care Affordability Report | 2026-10-13 |
| Annual childcare tax benefit | $2,600/yr | Internal Revenue Service Child and Dependent Care Credit information | 2026-10-16 |
| Employer 401(k) match and wage growth | 4.0% match, 3.5%/yr raise | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey | 2026-10-13 |
W-2 salary vs 1099 contract rate
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employment tax rate & wage base | 15.3% up to $184,500 | Internal Revenue Service Self-Employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes) | 2026-10-16 |
| Social Security taxable wage cap | $184,500 | Internal Revenue Service Topic 751, Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates | 2026-10-16 |
| Additional Medicare Tax | 0.9% above $200,000 | Internal Revenue Service Topic 751, Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates | 2026-10-16 |
| Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction | 20% of qualified net income | Internal Revenue Service Qualified Business Income Deduction (Section 199A) and Congressional Research Service on P.L. 119-21 | 2026-10-16 |
| Employer health insurance & retirement benefits | $7,200/yr health, 4% 401(k) match | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employer Costs for Employee Compensation | 2026-10-13 |
| Billable weeks per year | 47 weeks/yr | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey Paid Leave | 2026-10-13 |
Meal kits vs groceries and takeout
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw grocery cost per dinner serving before waste | $4.75/serving | USDA Food and Nutrition Service Official Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home | 2026-04-01 |
| Household grocery spoilage and unused ingredient waste | 18% | USDA Economic Research Service Food Loss and Waste | 2026-03-15 |
| Takeout or delivery dinner cost per serving (all-in) | $21.00/serving | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey Food Away From Home | 2026-03-15 |
| Meal kit per-serving price and weekly shipping | $10.99/serving + $10.99 shipping | USDA ERS Meal Kit and Online Grocery Pricing Briefs | 2026-04-01 |
Reselling old stuff vs donating
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online resale marketplace selling fee rate | 15% blended commission | eBay and Poshmark Published Selling Fees | 2026-04-01 |
| Shipping supplies and seller shipping discount per sold item | $2.50/sold item | USPS Ground Advantage Retail and Commercial Pricing | 2026-04-01 |
| Vehicle mileage cost for post office drop-offs and local meetups | $0.76/mile | IRS 2026 rate (from July 1), Announcement 2026-11 in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2026-29 | 2026-10-16 |
| Personal item resale tax treatment and donation rules | Personal loss sales non-taxable; 25% consignment payout | IRS Publication 526 Charitable Contributions | 2026-04-01 |
| Standard deduction (donation tax savings answer) | $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly (2026) | IRS 2026 inflation adjustments, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 | 2026-10-16 |
Bulk buying vs regular size savings
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household food spoilage and stale waste rates by package size | 4% regular pack waste, 18% bulk perishable pack waste | USDA Economic Research Service Food Loss and Waste | 2026-04-01 |
| Supermarket regular vs. club-pack unit price spread | $5.49 for 16 oz ($0.34/oz) vs $14.99 for 64 oz ($0.23/oz, ~32% unit discount) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Retail Food and Energy Prices | 2026-04-01 |
| Pantry stockpiling faster-consumption effect | 10% faster consumption when large multi-packs or bulk containers are open | U.S. Department of Agriculture Household Food Consumption Research | 2026-04-01 |
| Secondary freezer and bulk pantry storage overhead | $15/year allocated storage/freezer electricity across bulk basket | U.S. Department of Energy Energy Saver Appliances and Freezers | 2026-04-01 |
HDHP + HSA vs PPO health plan cost
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan A (HDHP) & Plan B (PPO) monthly employee premiums and deductibles | $140/mo HDHP ($2,000 deductible) vs $340/mo PPO ($750 deductible) | KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey | 2026-10-14 |
| Employer HSA deposit and your pre-tax HSA contribution | $750 from the employer, $2,500 from you | Internal Revenue Service Publication 969: Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans | 2026-10-14 |
| 2026 HSA contribution limit (your money and your employer's together) | $4,400 self-only, $8,750 family, plus $1,000 at age 55 or older | Internal Revenue Service Publication 969 (Rev. Proc. 2025-19) | 2026-10-16 |
| Combined income tax and payroll tax rate on HSA contributions | 29.65% (22% federal income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare) | Internal Revenue Service Topic No. 751: Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates | 2026-10-16 |
| Annual in-network out-of-pocket maximums | $5,000 HDHP / $4,000 PPO | HealthCare.gov Out-of-Pocket Maximum/Limit Glossary | 2026-10-14 |
Dental insurance vs paying cash
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail dental fees for cleanings, fillings, and crowns | $420 preventive (2 visits), $240 filling, $1,300 crown | American Dental Association Health Policy Institute Survey of Dental Fees | 2026-10-14 |
| Dental insurance premium, deductible, 100/80/50 tiers, and annual benefit cap | $45/mo premium, $50 deductible, 100%/80%/50% coverage, $1,500 annual cap | National Association of Dental Plans Dental Benefits Report | 2026-10-14 |
| Original Medicare routine dental exclusion | Excluded from Part A & Part B | Medicare.gov Dental Services Coverage Rules | 2026-10-14 |
Pet insurance vs emergency savings fund
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting monthly pet insurance premium and policy terms | $56/mo dog ($32/mo cat), $250 deductible, 80% reimbursement, $15,000 annual cap | North American Pet Health Insurance Association State of the Industry Report | 2026-10-14 |
| Emergency surgical and hospitalization vet bills | $4,500 emergency bill, $200/yr minor sick visits | American Veterinary Medical Association Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook | 2026-10-14 |
| Savings account yield on the pet emergency fund | 4.25% APY in the example, a high-yield online rate; the FDIC national average savings rate is 0.37% and its savings rate cap is 4.38% | FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps | 2026-10-16 |
True cost of owning a pet
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-year pet setup and annual recurring food, vet, and supply costs | $750 Year-1 setup, $65/mo food, $520/yr routine vet, $300/yr grooming and supplies | ASPCA Pet Care Costs Benchmark | 2026-10-14 |
| Routine and senior veterinary care expenditure | $520/yr routine vet + $2,400 lifetime senior and emergency reserve | American Veterinary Medical Association Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook | 2026-10-14 |
| Annual boarding, pet sitting, and dog walking | $400/yr boarding and sitting | American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey | 2026-10-14 |
Backyard chickens vs store-bought eggs
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer hen feed consumption, peak egg production, and Year 3+ decline | 90 lbs/hen/yr feed, 250 eggs/hen/yr peak, 15%/yr decline after Year 2 | Penn State Extension Small-scale Egg Production | 2026-10-14 |
| Retail conventional vs pasture-raised / organic egg price per dozen | $6.50/doz pasture-raised ($3.00/doz conventional) | USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Egg Markets Overview | 2026-10-14 |
| Backyard coop, predator-proof run, brooder gear, and bedding costs | $750 coop and run, $140 equipment, $95/yr bedding and grit | University of Minnesota Extension Raising Chickens for Eggs | 2026-10-14 |
Vegetable garden setup payback
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home garden area, upfront setup, and annual seed and compost spend | 64 sq ft (two 4x8 beds), $600 setup, $75/yr seeds and compost | National Gardening Association Garden-to-Table Report | 2026-10-14 |
| Harvest yield per sq ft | 1.0 lb per sq ft per year (an intensive bed tended by an experienced gardener) | National Gardening Association Garden-to-Table Report | 2026-10-16 |
| Retail per-pound produce prices across high-value and staple crops | $5.00/lb mixed high-value crops ($1.75/lb staple root crops) | USDA Economic Research Service Fruit and Vegetable Prices | 2026-10-14 |
| Raised bed soil volume, compost replenishment, and water usage | $140 bulk soil fill, $35/yr water and fertilizer | University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Raised Bed Gardening Guide | 2026-10-14 |
Home gym vs gym membership payback
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial gym monthly dues, initiation fee, and annual enhancement fee | $65/mo dues, $99 initiation fee, $49/yr annual maintenance fee | Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA) U.S. Health Club Consumer Report | 2026-04-01 |
| Home gym power rack, barbell, bumper plates, bench, and stall mats | $2,200 equipment + $200 horse-stall mats and freight delivery ($75/yr upkeep) | Garage Gym Reviews Home Gym Cost Survey and Rogue/REP Equipment Benchmarks | 2026-04-01 |
| Used strength equipment resale retention over 5 years | 55% of original equipment price retained | SidelineSwap and Facebook Marketplace Used Strength Gear Price Index | 2026-04-01 |
| Round-trip gym commute distance and marginal vehicle operating cost | 6 miles round-trip at $0.30/mile variable fuel and wear cost | AAA Your Driving Costs and U.S. Department of Energy Fuel Economy Benchmarks | 2026-04-01 |
DIY lawn care vs mowing service
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional weekly lawn mowing and seasonal cleanup/fertilizer pricing | $55/cut weekly mowing (28 cuts/yr) + $320/yr seasonal cleanup and turf treatment | Angi and HomeAdvisor National Lawn Care Cost Guide | 2026-04-01 |
| DIY walk-behind mower, string trimmer, leaf blower, and spreader purchase | $850 upfront equipment package (30% resale retained at year 5) | Consumer Reports Lawn Mower and Outdoor Power Equipment Buying Guide | 2026-04-01 |
| Annual mower fuel/electricity, blade sharpening, oil, trimmer line, and DIY fertilizer | $95/yr fuel and mower maintenance + $140/yr 4-step DIY fertilizer and weed control | University of Minnesota Extension Residential Turfgrass Management Benchmarks | 2026-04-01 |
| Mowing season length and homeowner labor time | 28 mowing weeks per year at 1.25 hours per mow (35 hours/year) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey Lawn and Garden Care | 2026-04-01 |
Home water filter vs bottled water
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system purchase and annual replacement filter/membrane cost | $260 upfront DIY under-sink RO system + $85/yr replacement sediment, carbon, and RO membrane cartridges | NSF International Certified Drinking Water Treatment Units and Consumer Reports Water Filter Guide | 2026-04-01 |
| Municipal tap water and RO reject water utility cost | $12/yr municipal water and sewer volume for 1.5 gal/day product water (at 3:1 RO brine ratio) | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense Indoor Water Use and Municipal Rate Benchmarks | 2026-04-01 |
| Retail bottled water price per gallon (cases of 16.9 fl oz bottles vs 5-gallon delivery) | $1.65/gallon for multi-pack 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) cases | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Retail Food and Beverage Prices and IBWA Benchmarks | 2026-04-01 |
| Household daily drinking and cooking water consumption | 1.5 gallons/day (547.5 gallons/year, equivalent to 4,147 single-use 16.9 fl oz bottles/year) | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Plain Water Intake Benchmarks | 2026-04-01 |
Youth travel sports vs college fund
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual youth travel club registration, tournament travel, lessons, and equipment spend | $2,400 club dues, $2,600 travel/hotels, $900 lessons/gear ($5,900/yr total vs $350/yr rec league) | Aspen Institute Project Play State of Play Youth Sports Survey | 2026-04-01 |
| NCAA athletic scholarship probability and average award size | 2.0% probability, $40,000 total 4-year partial scholarship value | NCAA Recruiting Facts and Probability of Competing Beyond High School | 2026-04-01 |
| Four-year in-state public university cost of attendance benchmark | $112,000 total 4-year tuition, fees, food, and housing ($28,000/yr) | College Board Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid | 2026-04-01 |
| Expected 529 / index fund annual investment return | 7.0% annual return | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Investor.gov Compound Interest Benchmarks | 2026-04-01 |
Streaming bundles vs cable TV
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable TV Year-1 promo rate vs Year-2 post-promo rate and standalone broadband | $65/mo standalone internet, $75/mo Year-1 cable TV add-on, $115/mo Year-2 post-promo add-on | Federal Communications Commission Communications Marketplace Report | 2026-04-01 |
| Mandatory broadcast TV surcharge, regional sports fee, and set-top box rentals | $28/mo broadcast + RSN surcharge, $20/mo DVR and set-top boxes, $14/mo franchise fees and taxes | Consumer Reports Cable Fee Investigation | 2026-04-01 |
| On-demand SVOD app stack and live TV vMVPD replacement pricing | $48/mo on-demand apps (15% rotation discount), $0-$83/mo live TV streaming | Deloitte Digital Media Trends Survey | 2026-04-01 |
Snowblower vs snow removal service
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storms a winter, by station and trigger | Rochester at 3 inches: 9.9 days. Eight stations, opened and checked. | NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals | 2026-10-17 |
| Real winters, and trigger depth | Rochester: 10 typical, 15 most, 2 fewest storms of 3 inches. Trigger 3 inches (typical, edit this). | WROC 2024; Redefine; Renpro | 2026-10-17 |
| Plow prices | $50 a visit, $500 a season (typical, edit this) | WROC 2024 and Redefine (links above); Lawnlove; Renpro and Housecall Pro | 2026-10-17 |
| Contract cap, extra visit | No cap; extra visit $50 (typical, edit this). No source for a typical cap. | Redefine; KP Landscaping | 2026-10-17 |
| Driveway presets, minutes a storm | $40/$450/15 min, $50/$500/30, $60/$600/45, $100/$1,200/75 (typical, edit this) | Our round steps from the sources above | 2026-10-17 |
| Blower price | Two-stage gas $1,499, single-stage gas $549, battery $749 (list prices) | Toro 826 OAE; Toro 518 ZR; Toro e21 60V | 2026-10-17 |
| Depth a blower handles, price range | Single-stage gas 9 inches, battery 6, two-stage 12 (a note only). Category $200 to $3,000 and up. | Consumer Reports buying guide, updated 2026-03-09; Toro pages | 2026-10-17 |
| Upkeep, blower life | Upkeep $100, $75, $25 a season; life 10 seasons gas, 8 battery (typical, edit this) | Consumer Reports 2014 | 2026-10-17 |
| Fuel or charging a storm | $1.70 two-stage at 30 min, $0.38 at 15, $2.55 at 45, $4.24 at 75; battery $0.10 (typical, edit this) | EIA gasoline and EIA electricity, copied from shared/state-defaults.json (2026-10-08) | 2026-10-17 |
| Sales tax | 8.54% New York average (use your county's rate) | Tax Foundation 2026, copied from shared/state-defaults.json | 2026-10-17 |
| Service and blower cost rises | 3% a year each (typical, edit this) | BLS CPI, September 2026 | 2026-10-17 |
| Resale, time, seasons, backup visits | Resale 0% (no source), time $0 an hour, 10 seasons, 2 backup visits (our round choices) | None. Our own choices. | 2026-10-17 |
| Health line | One line and a link, no advice. Opened. | American Heart Association, 2026-02-05 | 2026-10-17 |
| Pages that could not be opened | No number here comes from them. Not verified: a primary NOAA statement on plow contractors, a Consumer Reports price by type, a battery blower's life, gallons a storm, resale value, a typical visit cap. | Angi, Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, HomeAdvisor's cost page, Toro and EGO listings, three dealer or engine sites | 2026-10-17 |
Own modem and router vs rental fee
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modem or gateway fee | $15 a month (typical, edit this) | Optimum, pricing and packages ; Xfinity, equipment page | 2026-10-17 |
| Wi-Fi router or extender fee | $0 (examples $10 a month) | Optimum, same page ; Spectrum, Advanced WiFi | 2026-10-17 |
| Monthly add-on for owners | $0 (example $30 a month, unverified) | Xfinity forum, staff reply (unverified) | 2026-10-17 |
| Fiber: router included | No fee for the router | Verizon Fios ; Frontier Fiber | 2026-10-17 |
| Frontier Fiber extra fees | None used (unverified: $10 Wi-Fi, $50 restocking, $300 unreturned) | Search snippets, pages not opened ; Slashdot on an Ars Technica report, 2019 | 2026-10-17 |
| Astound fees | None used (unverified, search snippets only) | Astound, bring your own modem | 2026-10-17 |
| FCC broadband label rule | Unverified for 2026 | FCC 22-86 ; Broadband Breakfast, 2026-08-27 | 2026-10-17 |
| Yearly rise in the fee | 3 percent (typical, edit this) | Riverhead Local, 2018 ; Consumer Reports, 2015 | 2026-10-17 |
| Modem price | $130 (typical, edit this); $55 and $200 by plan speed | Engadget, 2026-10-06 ; SpeedTestHQ guide | 2026-10-17 |
| Router price | $100 single, $50 budget, $280 for 2 mesh units, $350 for 3 (typical, edit this) | Engadget, 2026-10-06 ; Amazon press release, eero 7, 2025-02-19 | 2026-10-17 |
| Years your gear lasts and resale value | 5 years (typical, edit this); resale $0 (a guide says $40 to $60; not checked) | SpeedTestHQ guide | 2026-10-17 |
| Return or activation fee, support you give up | $0 for both (no typical amount found) | Optimum, unreturned equipment list ; Optimum, certified modems | 2026-10-17 |
| Power draw of the gear | 12 W each (typical, edit this) | LBNL Standby Power Summary | 2026-10-12 |
| Electricity price | $0.25 per kWh (New York; U.S. $0.18) | EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A | 2026-10-17 |
| Years you keep it | 5 years (typical, edit this) | Not a sourced input | 2026-10-17 |