This tool uses UK context.
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Money · Gap year cost
Gap Year True Cost
What does a year off cost in lost earnings, missed pension contributions, and the travel itself? The total is always higher than the travel alone.
Instant result
Plain-English why
Copyable takeaway
What this means
No waffle. Just the number and how it was worked out.
Formula used
Total gap year cost = lost earnings + missed employer pension + student loan interest (if applicable) + travel/living costs
Worked example
A graduate earning £28,000 taking a year off: £28,000 lost salary + £1,400 missed pension + £5,000 travel = £34,400 total cost — not £5,000.
Common questions
Should the gap year cost put me off?
Not necessarily. The tool gives you the real number — whether the experience is worth it is a separate question that the number helps you answer clearly.
What about student loan interest during a gap year?
UK Plan 2 loans accrue interest at RPI + 3% while you are studying or earning under the threshold. A year out may still accrue interest depending on your loan type and start date.
Plain-English summary
The result summary for this calculator will live here.
This section translates the result into a short, direct takeaway rather than leaving the page at a bare number.
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