What this actually does: Compares two job offers across everything that actually matters, not just salary. Because that higher-paying job might actually make you poorer when you factor in the 3-hour commute and toxic work culture.

When to use this: You’ve got two offers and you’re confused. Or you have one offer and you’re trying to decide if you should leave your current job. Or you’re just curious if the grass is actually greener somewhere else.

How to compare properly:

For each offer, start with annual salary. Job A pays ₦300k monthly (₦3.6M yearly). Job B pays ₦350k monthly (₦4.2M yearly). Write both down.

Signing bonus matters if it’s real money. ₦500k signing bonus is ₦500k you can invest or save. But if it’s “paid over 2 years,” divide that number because it’s really just ₦20,833 monthly spread out.

Commute time is where people mess up most. Job A is 30 minutes from your house. Job B is 90 minutes. That 60-minute difference daily is 20 hours per month you’re losing. That’s basically a whole day of your life every month. Put in real numbers.

Work-life balance rating is subjective but necessary. Think about each company’s reputation. Does Job A let you leave at 5pm and actually mean it? Or are you replying to emails at 11pm? Rate it honestly from 1 to 5 stars. 1 star means you’re basically married to that job. 5 stars means you have a life outside work.

Growth potential is about where you’ll be in 2 to 3 years, not next month. Job A might have clear promotion paths. Job B might be a dead-end title with nowhere to grow. Think and rate 1 to 5 stars. Be honest about what you’ve heard from people who work there.

What the calculator tells you:

Total score combines everything. Not just money. Your time, your sanity, your future. The higher score is the better choice overall.

First-year earnings show what you’ll actually make in year one including bonuses.

Time value quantifies your commute in hours per year. When you see “350 hours per year in traffic,” it hits different. That’s almost 15 full days of your life wasted in Lagos traffic annually.

Real comparison: Offer A: ₦3.6M salary, ₦300k signing bonus, 45-minute commute, 3-star work-life balance, 4-star growth. Score: 73.5 Offer B: ₦4.2M salary, ₦200k signing bonus, 20-minute commute, 4-star work-life balance, 3-star growth. Score: 76.2

Offer B wins even though growth is slightly lower. Why? Better work-life balance and way less commute time adds quality to your life that ₦600k extra annually doesn’t fully cover when you’re spending 2 hours daily in traffic.

Plot twist scenario: Sometimes the lower-paying job wins because the higher salary doesn’t make up for the stress, the commute, the toxic culture, and the lack of growth. This calculator shows you that before you make the mistake.

Use this for: Comparing external offers. Comparing your current job to a new offer (just put your current situation in one column). Even comparing one offer against itself to see if you should negotiate different terms.